Secondary school principals are in utter shock as they try to come to terms with a circular released by the Ministry of Education (MoE) requiring them to account for Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) funds for first term 2024 which they haven’t yet received.
Principals who reached out to Education News complained that they are required to account for Ksh8,319.68 per student, while the MoE deposited only Ksh4,000 into their accounts.
They are now confused, not knowing whether to receipt according the amount they received in their accounts, or what the circular says. This is in view of the fact that there is no telling when the remaining balance will be sent.
Normally, heads of institutions cannot spend any funds received until they get a circular guiding them on how the money should be divided into various vote heads.
According to the circular released by the MoE dated January 17, 2024 and signed by Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Dr Belio Kipsang’, the total amount for first term released per learner is Ksh8,319.68, for which an acknowledgement is expected through official school receipts to the PS with copies to Sub-County Directors of Education.
Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) National Treasurer, who is also Principal Kapcherop Boys Secondary School Amos Cherono, stated that the MoE should have released a circular basing it on what schools actually received in their accounts.
“It is not fair; they should have sent a circular … to account for the money that we have received in our accounts. But the circular is inclusive of the money that they have not sent and we don’t know when they will send that money. It is contradicting and very difficult because when you want to do a receipt, how will do it?” he wondered.
“I think they have to resend that circular basing on the specific amount we received in our accounts. We are liaising with the Ministry so that they advise us accordingly,” added Cherono.
However, Director Secondary Education in the Ministry Paul Kibet explained that the circular released specifies the amount that will be released in two equal tranches, which implies that the amount received by schools in the first tranche is Ksh4,159.84.
According to Kibet, the second and final tranche of the funds (also Ksh4,159.84) will be disbursed into the school accounts shortly.
“The circular released specifies the amount to be disbursed in two equal tranches. This will be the 50 per cent for term one. I am pleased to inform you that the first tranche has been successfully disbursed. For clarity, the amount received is for tranche one. The second and final tranche for term one is in progress and will be disbursed shortly,” clarified Kibet.
For a long time, Principals have decried that funding in secondary schools has been too clouded in confusion as the tranches they receive are irregular, suspicious, uncertain and punitive, prompting them at some point last year to petition the National Assembly to help them get the full capitation at the approved rate of Ksh22,244 per child.
By Education News reporter
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