Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has questioned the school funding plan that has led to the deficit that now derails institutions operations.
Kuppet has issued a seven day-ultimatum to the Government to release the money owed to schools totaling to KSh54 billion.
The union is considering paralysing the reopening of institutions for the second term. This will be the first time teachers downing their tools in nearly a decade should the union make good its threat.
The added that the Government has only released KSh3, 877 per learner to schools instead of KSh11, 122 per learner expected for the first term.
KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori on Wednesday March 20, 2024 said that head of learning institutions have been subjected to ridicule and accusation of poor leadership due to the delay release of capitation which has been slashed.
“The union is disturbed that the government has decided to institute cuts in spending in education and this has negates on the principle of free education which is compulsory,” Misori said.
Misori added that the situation has forced suppliers take some schools to court over huge pending bills.
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The crisis in the education sector could escalate after KUPPET warned of possible strike when schools reopen for the second term.
The last strike was in 2015.
Head teachers and Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) last week raised concerns over the crisis in the education sector saying that the Government had only provided a fraction of capitation funds for the first term.
Dr. Kipsang’ on Monday March 20 while appearing before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, said the Government has released 25 per cent and the remaining to be released in 10 days.
Misori questioned why the Government is yet to restore monies previously used to provide students with a medical cover even after it was discontinued in January 2024. He lamented that the ministry has retained funds for co-curricular activities, infrastructure development and Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA) for purchase of science and mathematics equipment greatly reducing capitation funds.
The Ministry of Education on Monday acknowledged that had a KSh22 billion shortfall, attributed to stagnant funding for the past six years despite a surging student population.
KUPPET Chair Amboko Milemba called for the audit of the number of students in public schools to weed out ghost students.
“Up to today, there is no explanation on how 900 students registered for KCSE but could not be found during the examination period, we need a thorough audit to align the number of learners with the capitation provided,” he said.
The KUPPET Chairman also noted that the Education Management System-Nemis has disadvantaged schools as some students are not funded because their names are missing in the system which is relied on for the disbursement of funds.
By Brian Ndigo
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