Public secondary schools will receive the balance of Sh14 billion first term capitation funds next week, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has promised.
The schools were to receive Sh28 billion for the first term but the ministry only disbursed half of it. Mr Ogamba has asked schools not to send learners away over fee arrears as the money will be in school accounts next week.
He said on Thursday the Education ministry is working with the Treasury to ensure funds are wired to schools by the end of next week.
He spoke at the quarterly meeting for technical and vocational education and training principals at the Eldoret National Polytechnic.
Under the Free Primary Education Programme, the government allocates Sh1,420 per learner, while junior schools receive Sh15,042 per student. Secondary schools are expected to receive Sh22,244 per student under the Free Day Secondary Education programme.
However, the government has consistently delayed releasing the money, subjecting schools to financial challenges that force them to send learners with fee balances home and adopt other cost-cutting measures.
“It is not the parents who pay school fees. The school fees are paid through capitation from the government, and we are doing everything we can to ensure that the balance of Sh14 billion is cleared,” explained Mr Ogamba.
He said they were working on mechanisms to ensure capitation funds are released on time to facilitate smooth learning in public schools.
“We are liaising with the National Treasury to ensure that the funds are released on time, and school management should not be sending learners home for non-payment of fees,” he said.
The government releases the capitation for schools in three tranches: 50 percent in the first term, followed by 30 percent in the second term, and the balance of 20 percent in the third term.
The CS cautioned against politicisation of learning institutions and cautioned school boards against interfering with management matters.
“Public institutions will fall if there is no professionalism and integrity in administrative and financial management. School boards should adhere to their mandate, and heads of schools should exercise competency in their work,” said the CS.
The CS disclosed plans to introduce reforms, including a review of courses offered by TVETs to meet the demands of the competitive market.
“The TVET reform agenda remains at the center of our national skills plan. We continue to make strides in the implementation of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET), which is essential in ensuring that our graduates meet industry expectations,” he said, challenging more than 3.8 million youth who are either unemployed or in formal training to enroll for empowerment with skills that meet market demands.
