Public school head teachers across the country have voiced their growing frustration over continued underfunding and delay of capitation funds, despite the National Treasury assurance that all allocations for the current financial year have been disbursed.
On May 19, Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo confirmed the release of the final disbursement of KSh22 billion, meant to cover Term Three allocations for public primary, junior secondary, and secondary schools.
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“We have paid for Term One and Term Two, and on May 19, we released the final amount for Term Three. We have no outstanding balance for this financial year,” Kiptoo said.
However, school heads on the ground report a different reality. Many say the funds have yet to reach their institutions, disrupting essential operations like meal programs, procurement of teaching materials, and payment of utility bills.
Jane Auma, a headteacher in Kisumu, painted a bleak picture of the situation in her school: “Last term, the government owed learners Ksh4, 000, and this term we’re owed Ksh3, 000 per learner. The ministry has warned us against asking parents for assistance. We cannot suffer in silence.”
A counterpart in Kiambu echoed the same sentiments, stating: “We are expected to run an entire institution on a token. Our classrooms are crumbling, and there is barely space for our Grade Seven pupils. It’s not just difficult—it’s impossible.”
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The Ministry of Education appears to confirm concerns about shortfalls in funding. In a circular dated May 28, Principal Secretary Julius Bitok acknowledged that schools received only KSh2,318.79 per learner for Term Two—just over half the expected KSh4,512.60—representing only 30% of the annual allocation per student.
While Dr. Kiptoo emphasized that the Treasury had done its part and redirected accountability to the Ministry of Education, headteachers are calling for parliamentary intervention. “We need transparency,” one headteacher said. “We’re not asking for favours. This is money that learners are entitled to by law.”
Beyond the capitation delays, school heads are also grappling with deteriorating infrastructure, a shortage of teachers, and overcrowding—issues exacerbated by the government’s 100 per cent transition policy.
By Cornelius Korir
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