The Ministry of Education released the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) funds for term 1 of 2023 and third quarter of Financial Year 2022/2023 on June 14, 2023, where Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Belio Kipsang’ broke down how the funds were allocated.
In the circular dated June 14, 2023 and copied to County Directors of Education (CDEs) countrywide, the PS noted that the allocation per student was Ksh4,150.35 and the enrolment used was extracted from the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) on April 12, 2023 at 12.48pm.
“The Ministry has remitted Ksh280.00 and Ksh50 per learner to Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMESTEA) to cater for textbooks and Capacity Building (SMASSE) respectively under tuition account,” read the circular in part.
It added: “Another Ksh338.50 and Ksh100.00 per learner has been remitted to National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and field officers from the operations account to cater for medical insurance (EduAfya) for learners and centralized co-curricular activities.”
Dr. Kipsang’ said that the CDEs should ensure all principals acknowledge receipt of funds by issuing official school receipts to his office covering both Tuition and Operation Accounts with copies to the Sub County Directors (SCDEs) and County Directors of Education (CDEs).
They principals were instructed to acknowledge receipt of funds through NEMIS by uploading a copy of the official receipt for both accounts where applicable, providing to the CDE through the SCDE an allocation of funds duly signed by individual students as well as having individual students sign form-lists that show their admission numbers and full names as in the admission register and the amount awarded.
The lists were supposed to be attached to the payment voucher kept in the school as per procedure and every student issued with a school official receipt for the allocation.
The PS noted that this should be accomplished within two weeks of receipt of funds, failure to which further release of grants to such schools will be suspended.
“Schools that fail to acknowledge funds within the stipulated time will not be provided with FDSE funds in subsequent disbursement,” he warned.
He added: “Any communication to this Ministry from all heads of institution should clearly indicate the Unique Institutional Code (UIC) and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) codes for the school in question to ease retrieval of records.”
The circular further noted the CDE and their respective SCDEs must also authenticate and monitor the accuracy of enrolment data of schools in their jurisdictions as reflected in NEMIS.
Furthermore, recovery of any excess amounts received will be instituted for any school that is found to have an enrolment less than the one used in this disbursement.
By Thuita Jaswant
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