Narok County Parents Association (PA) chairperson Gilbert Bwogo Sang has called on the national government to increase schools’ capitation, saying the current funding levels are no longer sufficient to meet the growing operational demands of learning institutions across the country.
Speaking during the Rift Valley Region Secondary Schools Sports Association (RVSSSA) Games in Narok County, Sang said many schools are facing serious financial challenges due to delayed and inadequate capitation funds.
He noted that schools are currently operating under immense pressure as the cost of running institutions continues to rise while government funding remains unchanged.
According to him, the situation has left many schools with huge debts owed to suppliers and service providers.
Sang said increasing capitation would significantly ease the financial burden currently being borne by parents, many of whom are struggling to meet additional school requirements occasioned by funding shortfalls.
“The move will ease the burden on parents and allow schools to operate more efficiently without constantly seeking extra resources to bridge funding gaps,” he said.
He added that parents fully support government efforts to improve access to quality education but stressed that schools require adequate financial support to effectively deliver services and maintain standards.
“Schools are under immense pressure because the funds they receive are not enough to cater for the increasing cost of running institutions. The government should review and enhance capitation to enable schools to provide quality education without financial strain,” said Sang.
He observed that school administrators are struggling to meet essential expenses, including payment of suppliers, maintenance of facilities, co-curricular activities, utility bills and other operational costs. As a result, many institutions have accumulated arrears running into millions of shillings.
The PA chair warned that continued underfunding could negatively affect the quality of education offered in schools. He said principals are often forced to postpone development projects and other important programmes due to financial constraints.
Sang further urged the government to ensure timely disbursement of capitation funds, noting that delays often disrupt learning programmes and interfere with the implementation of planned school activities.
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“Timely release of funds is just as important as increasing the allocation. Schools need predictable funding to plan effectively and ensure smooth operations throughout the academic year,” he said.
He emphasized that adequate funding is critical in supporting academic programmes, sports, infrastructure development and learner welfare. He added that co-curricular activities such as sports play an important role in nurturing talent and promoting holistic development among learners.
His remarks come amid growing concerns from secondary school principals and education stakeholders across the country, who have repeatedly called for a review of school funding and fee structures.
They argue that rising costs of commodities and services have made it increasingly difficult for schools to operate effectively under the current capitation framework.
By Jeff Kirui
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