Seek solution to school funds crisis in final term
Public schools are grappling with a massive capitation shortfall of Sh22.5 billion.
As Kenyan schools gear up for the final term, a funding crisis continues to plague the education system. According to Kessha, public schools face a Sh22.5 billion shortfall in capitation payments from the previous two terms. While Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba disputes this amount, the lack of funds is already impacting daily operations.
The head teachers are left with the difficult decision of whether to send students home due to unpaid fees, all while trying to maintain the institution without the necessary supplies or staff salaries. The root cause of the issue lies in the insufficient domestic funding, which often fails to bridge the gaps left by discontinued donor grants and reduced international aid, including cuts from the UK's Department for International Development.
Day secondary schools, which rely solely on government funding, are the most severely affected, receiving a mere Sh14,573 per learner per year, far below the allocated Sh22,244. Efforts are underway to address the funding issues, but proposed legislation threatens to penalize school heads for imposing additional levies. Streamlining school funding and resolving capitation delays are essential to ensure the smooth functioning of these institutions.
Written by urgent.news from Nation Africa's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
