By John Majau
The Government will allocate an estimated Sh6 billion towards the improvement of the country’s infrastructural facilities in public schools in the next financial year.
Kenya’s financial year 2018/2019 starts from 1st July 2018, a period when Government ministries and departments will start receiving fresh allocation after exhausting the 2017/2018 financial year budget.
Following the ministry policy shift, Day and Sub County secondary schools will be given priority in the allocation as they require more facilities.
Since the introduction of Free Secondary Education, transition from primary to secondary schools has hit the 100 per cent mark, hence overstretching the available facilities.
Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed said that this is meant to ease congestion and enhance the institutions’ learning environment.
“We are aware of overstretched facilities in most schools but we have put aside the money to ensure that every constituency gets Sh12 million for infrastructural development,” she said.
Out of the total budget, each constituency will receive Sh12 million to undertake the construction of classrooms, laboratories, dormitories and sanitation facilities.
Once in place, this is meant to ensure that 100 per cent transition rate from primary school to secondary level is sustained.
Speaking at Chuka Girl High School recently, the CS identified classrooms and dormitories as the hardest hit with the improved transition.
“Each Constituency has been allocated Sh12 million to enable the identified institutions undertake the construction of the required facilities,” she observed.
However, she urged those involved in the use of the funds to ensure that the money is prudently used to realise its intended goals.
At the same time, she warned secondary school principals over introducing illegal levies in schools, arguing that it might lead to high dropout rate amongst children from poor background.
The CS urged parents, guardians and other stakeholders to be on the lookout for any principal who might introduce any extra levy apart from the legally acceptable fees structure.
The culprits, she warned, should be reported immediately to the provincial administration for appropriate action to be taken.
“No learner should miss out on grounds of tuition because education is their constitutional right which must be protected at all costs and no one should be disadvantaged,” she added.
