School Principals Threaten Early Mid-Term Break Due to Funding Delays
The Kenya Secondary Schools Head Association (KSSHA) has warned of a potential early mid-term break for students due to insufficient funds, despite government assurances of impending fund releases without specified dates.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has firmly stated that no schools will close prematurely because of delayed government capitation, assuring that schools will receive the funds “in due course.”
A letter from Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang dated May 24 informed learners and tutors that the half-term break is scheduled from June 26 to June 28.
Despite this, school heads, struggling with financial shortages, insisted that an early mid-term break might be unavoidable due to increasing debts.
While addressing the issue in Migori County, Machogu reiterated that the government had already disbursed 50 percent of the term one obligation, and the 30 percent for term two is forthcoming, though he did not specify a date.
For the third term, schools are allocated the remaining 20 percent of the government’s funding since it is the shortest term with fewer activities.
Willie Kuria, the head of the association, highlighted that day schools are particularly affected as they completely depend on government capitation to sustain operations.
Kuria pointed out that most schools are severely impacted, particularly day schools which do not charge fees and solely rely on government capitation.
He emphasized the need to address capitation issues, noting that significant gaps exist, exacerbating the financial strain on schools.
This year, schools have received Ksh8,300 per student out of the Ksh11,000 expected for term one, leading to financial shortfalls for term two.
Kuria explained that from the Ksh8,300 provided, the Ministry of Education retained Ksh565 for centralized book procurement, schools had to deduct Ksh2,000 for infrastructural development, and Ksh750 for student health treatment (Edu Afya).
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This left schools with Ksh4,985 per student for operational costs in the first term.
Francis Wanjohi, the KSSHA Executive Secretary for Nyeri County, added that schools receive only Ksh17,000 in capitation, while their budgets require Ksh22,000, questioning how schools are expected to cover the Ksh5,000 shortfall.
School Principals Threaten Early Mid-Term Break Due to Funding Delays
