Head Teachers Wants Qualified Accountants to Oversee School Resources.
Primary school head teachers currently overseeing Junior School (JS) management have called on the government to deploy qualified accountants to aid in efficient resource management.
During their recent Annual National Conference in Mombasa, head teachers emphasized that accountants or bursars would enhance the management of capitation funds allocated by the Ministry of Education.
Most primary schools lack dedicated bursars, despite receiving substantial government funding—approximately Ksh1,400 per primary school learner and Ksh15,000 per JS learner.
The head teachers stressed that qualified financial personnel are essential to ensuring transparency and effective allocation of these funds.
The Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff, Felix Koskei, who inaugurated the conference on November 5, 2024, urged school heads to ensure responsible management of government resources allocated to their schools.
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He encouraged them to be well-versed in the Public Finance Management Act and the Public Procurement and Disposal Act to avoid audit issues. Additionally, the Ministry of Education announced that school audits would begin from the next financial year.
Career and Compensation Advancements for Head Teachers
Head teachers have also requested the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to grant them recognition as principals, which would include provisions for career progression from Grade D1 to D5 and salary increases to reflect their expanded responsibilities. Other specific requests to the TSC and MoE include:
- Promotion for teachers who have furthered their studies.
- Resource Allocation through KEMIS rather than birth certificates by integrating the Competence-Based Assessment portal into the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS).
- Increased Capitation Funding for free education, aligned with recommendations in the 2023 Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER).
Additional Requests for Education Support and Resources
Head teachers are advocating for further government action to enhance the quality of education across the board. Their additional recommendations include:
- Immediate disbursement of free capitation funds, as previously done.
- Expedited recruitment of Junior School teachers to address staffing shortages.
- Equitable distribution of Grade 9 classrooms under MoE oversight for primary schools nationwide.
- Expansion of school meal programs to urban informal settlements.
- Reinstatement of the Teacher of the Year Award (TOYA) and Headteacher of the Year Award (HOYA) as part of reestablishing recognition programs that were previously in place.
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These proposals underscore the need for structural support and policy adjustments to improve resource management, educational standards, and teacher recognition in Kenyan schools.
Head Teachers Wants Qualified Accountants to Oversee School Resources.
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