KNUT Pushes for Immediate Release of Capitation Funds Before Schools Reopen.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has called on the Ministry of Education to release capitation funds to schools ahead of the reopening scheduled for Monday, April 28. Speaking on Sunday, April 27, KNUT Secretary General Hesbon Otieno emphasized the need for timely funding to support the anticipated transitions in the second term.
Otieno highlighted that second term activities would be crucial for Grade 9 students, who are set to select their senior secondary school pathways. He stressed that adequate funding was necessary to ensure a smooth transition. He urged the government to disburse both the second term capitation and any outstanding balances from the first term before schools resumed, not midway or near the term’s end.
“It is important that the ministry releases the 30 per cent that is expected to be released in the second term,” Otieno said, insisting that timely disbursement would allow schools to “start on a good slate because of what we have in terms of transition.”
Otieno further noted the critical role of financial empowerment for schools, as students begin selecting their pathways in Grade 10. He remarked that institutions must be equipped to handle this process efficiently to prevent delays and frustrations for school management. “Schools need to be empowered to ensure that this work is done in a timely manner,” he asserted.
Implementation of Senior Secondary Pathways
Current Grade 9 students will be the first cohort under the new Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, specializing in different pathways beginning in Grade 10. Under the new curriculum, students have three pathways to choose from—Arts and Sports, Social Sciences, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)—with a maximum of two choices permitted.
Pathway selection will depend on both student preferences and merit, aiming to align learners with suitable career paths from an early stage.
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Despite the structured plan, the transition has not been without controversy. Recently, the Ministry of Education faced backlash over a directive that only STEM students would study mathematics, departing from the 8-4-4 system where math was compulsory. The public uproar led to a reversal, with the ministry later clarifying that students in other pathways would also engage with a form of mathematics.
On Friday, April 15, a significant change was announced: the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) was officially renamed to Competency-Based Education (CBE). This move was intended to streamline learning pathways, making education more practical, affordable, and accessible for all students.
KNUT Pushes for Immediate Release of Capitation Funds Before Schools Reopen.
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