Secondary schools in Kenya are facing the potential loss of as much as KSh11 billion allocated for their running, amid an ongoing fiscal crunch that could hamper their operations.
The situation is exacerbated by the discord between educators and the Ministry of Education regarding the state of finances.
School administrators have voiced their grievances over the Ministry’s tardiness in disbursing the second term’s financial support, as well as the incomplete provision of the promised funds for the first term, which amounts to approximately KSh11 billion in outstanding payments.
Yet, the Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu, on Wednesday, June 6 challenged the claims made by school Principals, asserting that both primary and secondary schools have already been allocated the complete funding for the first term.
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“No school is closing down because the 50 per cent capitation has been given to each secondary school and all our primary schools,” said Machogu.
Annually, the Kenyan government allocates KSh22, 244 for each student in public secondary schools. This amount is disbursed in three parts: 50 per cent during the first term, 30 per cent in the second term, and the final 20 per cent in the third term.
School principals report that the funding received for the first term fell short of the expected 50 per cent. Given the annual total funding of KSh22, 244 per student for secondary schools, the principals assert that they should have received KSh11, 000 for each student.
According to a report from KESSHA (Kenya Secondary School Heads Association) named “Free Secondary Education Capitation, 2024,” the Ministry has disbursed KSh8, 319.68 for each student for the initial term. Therefore, a balance of KSh2, 802.32 still owes,” the document reads.
The Cabinet Secretary, however, stated that the ministry intends to disburse the 30 per cent of the funds, amounting to KSh30, allocated for the second term. This means that the institutions could lose the KSh2, 802 per student. With 4.1 million learners in public secondary schools, this translates to KSh11 billion that was meant for the over 10,000 secondary schools in the country.
“So what we are going to distribute this particular month is another 30 per cent for second term,” said Machogu.
Machogu spoke at the Kenya School of Government where he presided over the official unveiling of the fourth National Education Sector Strategic Plan. This plan is designed to steer the Ministry in delivering access, equity, and high-quality education and training to the citizens over the forthcoming five years.
The plan reveals that the government requires more than KSh4 trillion in the upcoming five years to finance the education sector. The issue of insufficient funding in secondary schools has been a continuous problem for the past five years.
By Frank Mugwe
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