Secondary school Principals have expressed concerns over the delay by government to release capitation funds to enable smooth running of the schools.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Chairman Willie Kuria has said that if the State through the Ministry of Education (MoE) fails to release KSh48 billion to secondary, primary and junior schools then these institutions may be forced to close down.
Kuria who is the Principal of Murang’a High has added that schools are already grappling with unpaid bills and disconnected utilities.
Kuria said, “We are at a crossroads. If action is not taken before the end of the week, schools will likely have to shut down. We are at a crossroads. If action is not taken before the end of the week, schools will likely have to shut down.”
He went further to state that as a result of outstanding debts owed to suppliers, some schools are already facing legal action. “This is an emergency. Some schools have pending cases in court, threatening their relationships with suppliers over arrears running into billions of shillings.”
Few hours before schools reopened for First Term, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said that the State has disbursed the Sh48 billion capitation.
However, last week, National Treasury CS Treasury John Mbadi said that government is looking for money and by the end of this month it will release the funds to Ministry of Education.
“We are working closely with the MoE to ensure money is released to schools on time and ensure smooth learning,” Mbadi said.
Saying that he is aware of the concern over the delay in releasing the cash, he asked school heads to bear with the government for a short while.
Mbadi explained that the government experiences slowed pace of revenue collection in January and February.
Said Mbadi, “Our priority this year is to pay back the loans, release capitation to school, pay salaries and release the December allocation to county governments.”
“Let schools not act like there is an emergency, learning can still go on even if we have not released the funds. I can, however, assure than that salaries of all school workers are available.”
KESSHA chairman has said that the present crisis is fueled by shortfalls carried forward from the last year when the government failed too fully disburse capitation funds.
“Last year, schools received Sh15,244 per student instead of the expected Sh22,244. The shortfall of Sh7,000 per student was never paid, leaving schools with significant,” he added.
“Deficits have accumulated over the past five years to exceed KSh64 billion, creating a debt crisis that has paralysed many institutions.”
Principals of some school have been forced to send students home to collect fees.
National Parents Association Chairman Silas Obuhatsa, on his part has asked the State to move with speed in releasing the cash saying, “This delay is jeopardising our students’ futures. Education should be a priority, not an afterthought.”
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