Gov’t Failure to Release Capitation has Ruined Schools
Secondary schools have been compelled to implement severe cost-cutting measures due to the government’s failure to release the full capitation for the year. School administrators are now making adjustments by reducing educational programs and altering the school meal plans to efficiently manage daily resources, all while dealing with unpaid fees amounting to millions of shillings owed to suppliers.
As the academic year draws to a close, it has come to our attention that the Ministry of Education has only disbursed Sh11,892.14 per student, leaving a balance of Sh10,351.86 for the current year. This amount, 53.46% of the total capitation, was provided in three installments, with the first on January 26, the second on June 14, and the third on September 25.
During interviews, several school heads disclosed that County Directors of Education had cautioned them against speaking to the media about the government’s failure to release capitation funds. The schools are grappling with substantial debts to suppliers, unpaid staff salaries, and shortages of laboratory chemicals, among other challenges.
“The situation is dire, and school administrators have been cautioned against public statements. We are urged to be resourceful,” noted one school principal.
Across the Central region, teachers expressed their dissatisfaction with the Ministry’s decision to withhold students’ capitation. They have sought the intervention of political leaders to exert pressure on the government to release the funds, which, if delayed further, may result in legal action from suppliers.
Also Read:Â All systems go as KCSE practical exams start
Due to the government’s failure to fulfill its commitment, school administrators have been compelled to revise the school budget, seek alternative suppliers, and, in some cases, send students home to collect outstanding fee balances.
A survey indicated that day schools, particularly those dependent on bursary programs, are severely affected, with many students failing to return to school after being sent home to collect unpaid fees.
For example, a school in Murang’a opted to cease providing rice and milk to students to reduce costs, instead focusing on procuring academic materials. Boarding schools in the Mount Kenya region have had to increase fees by an additional Sh10,000 to Sh20,000 to accommodate the rising cost of living while maintaining the quality of education.
Willy Kuria, the National Secretary of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA), emphasized that schools are facing a debt crisis, with suppliers reluctant to engage in school contracts. School management, he added, is becoming increasingly challenging due to the lack of finances, while candidates await their national examinations.
Gov’t Failure to Release Capitation has Ruined Schools
