Education ministry releases Sh23billion towards school capitation

By Moses Muli

Published: 27 March 2024 12:07 PM(EAT)

The government has released Sh23 billion for capitation to public secondary schools ending the prolonged financial crisis, which threatened to disrupt operations at the institutions.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said the funds will be deposited before the end of the week.

Machogu said the release of the funds signifies the government’s commitment to the education sector even as he refuted claims that, allocations had been slashed.

“Capitation for secondary schools has remained Sh22,240 per student and the government is committed to releasing the funds to ensure the success of education programmes. We have not reduced the capitation. This is a constitutional matter, and it is in the interest of the government that this allocation is not reduced,” he said.

Although the funds will be hitting school accounts just about a week to the end of first term, with others expected to close by this Friday, it will be a relief for principals across the country who have been pushing for release of funds.

The CS, who was speaking at Henry Kosgey Kibukwo Secondary School in Tinderet sub-county, urged secondary school heads to ensure prudent expenditure of the funds. The government, he added, has made strides in improving the quality of education, saying employment of 56,750 teachers last year, addressed under-staffing across the country. This Financial Year, he said, funds have been set aside to employ an additional 20,000 teachers to bridge existing gaps.

Secondary school principals have been raising concerns that some critical activities in the calendars would be adversely affected by delays in the release of capitation.

They have also decried challenges in paying suppliers, which they were also been afraid would compromise on the quality of education, with day secondary schools, which fully depend on capitation, bearing the biggest brunt.

Similarly, the Kenya National Union of Teachers warned that school programmes could grind to a halt owing to delayed disbursement and demanded immediate disbursement to avert a crisis in schools.