Each student in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) has been allocated KSh4, 998.1 for this term as part of the Free Day Junior School Education (FDJSE) disbursed by the Ministry of Education (MoE).
Consequently, each school hosting the JSS learners has been allocated a total of KSh274, 444 as a basic allocation from the ministry.
In a memo signed by Belio addressed to all the County Directors of Education (CDEs) dated June 18, 2024 and seen by Education News, revealed the government used the data obtained from National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) on April 20 to allocate funds to students and schools.
In a memo signed by Belio addressed to all the County Directors of Education (CDEs) dated June 18, 2024, it is shown that each student has been allocated Ksh4,998.1 for this term as part of the Free Day Junior School Education (FDJSE), with schools bagging a total of Ksh274,444.00 as a basic allocation.
“The Ministry of Education has released Free Day Junior School Education (FDJSE) funds for Junior Schools (JSs) for Term 2, 2024 at Ksh4,998.1 per learner. Further each school will receive an allocation of Ksh274,444.00 as a basic allocation. The data was obtained from NEMIS on April 20, 2024 at 10.30am,” the memo reads in part.
The breakdown for the utilization of funds in institutions as per the PS has the personal emolument allocated the biggest share totalling to Ksh199,713, Rental Box and postage, Telephone Charges, Board of Management (BoM) meetings and capacity building were allocated Ksh58,416.37.
Others like internet connectivity and electricity, and water and conservancy have been allocated Ksh11,667.14, Ksh4,647.49 respectively. All these bring the total to Ksh274,444. 00.
In the allocation breakdown per learner, tuition received more as the amount disbursed is Ksh 1,746.38 whilst the funds for centralized procurement is Ksh1,1175.720, which brings the total to Ksh2,922.1.
Consequently, the sum allocated for operation is Ksh2,076.00, with 1,976, and Ksh100 disbursed to schools and centralized procurement respectively.
The PS revealed that the funds are meant to cater for all learners in grades 7 and 8 and schools are expected to utilize the resources as per estimates issued by the ministry.
Belio directed all school heads with JSS to acknowledge the receipt of funds through issuing official school receipts to the Principal Secretary, State Department for Basic Education for both Tuition and Operation Accounts, with copies to the Sub-County Director of Education and County Director of Education.
“This acknowledgement must be accomplished within two weeks of receipt of funds. Schools whose acknowledgement is NOT received at the headquarters in the stipulated time will be suspended from the programme. It should also be noted that, recovery will be instituted for any school that is found to have an enrolment less than the one used in this disbursement,” the memo reads.
He warned that schools whose characteristics are conflicting will be left out of the disbursement and as a result, they will receive their funds once the correct details are provided and confirmed.
He further advised schools to complete their data on the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) as all disbursements will be based on the system.
The PS said that schools are required to operate a Tuition Account where all payments should strictly be made by cheques. Funds in the tuition account must be utilized for the procurement of teaching and learning materials only.
He directed the BoMs across the country to ensure prudence in the use of school funds and to adhere to the laid down financial regulations as stipulated in the reviewed Handbook on Financial Management for Public Schools, Teacher Training Colleges and Technical and Vocational Colleges in Kenya issued by the MoE, the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, and the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2015.
The PS said that all communication to the ministry must always indicate the UIC (NEMIS code).
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