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Kenya: Schools in Trouble As Ministry Delays Release of Sh15 Billion

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5 years ago

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Public primary and secondary schools are facing a financial crisis just a week after they reopened. This is after the government delayed releasing Sh15 billion meant for the schools.

School heads who spoke to the Sunday Nation yesterday said creditors are on their necks demanding to be paid for foodstuffs and other items supplied to the institutions last term and before schools reopened on Monday.

The heads also said they have not been able to pay non-teaching staff and some have accumulated salary arrears since last year because the government has been underfunding the institutions.

Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (Kepsha) chairman Johnson Nzioka said for the more than 23,000 public primary schools, the situation is worrying since they entirely depend on government funding.

“Primary schools have not received any funds so far since reopening yet we are expected to ensure that the Covid-19 protocols are observed in schools,” said Mr Nzioka. Some schools that do not have running water, Mr Nzioka said, have been forced to ask parents to step in for the safety of the children.

Capitation per child

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha last week promised that the government will release a total of Sh15.8 billion to schools by Friday. Secondary schools were to receive Sh13 billion and primary schools Sh2.8 billion.

However, the school heads said the money has not reflected in the schools’ accounts.

Mr Nzioka further said that despite primary schools asking the government to revise the capitation per child from the current Sh1,420 to Sh 8,077 annually, they are yet to receive a response from the Ministry.

When contacted, Basic Education Principal secretary Dr Julius Jwan did not answer our calls nor reply to text messages sent to him

The financial crisis is also biting in secondary schools, with some sending students with fees arrears home.

Fee balances

Mr Martin Oloo, a parent whose daughter is in Form Two at Embakasi Girls in Nairobi, said his daughter was not allowed to report because of fee balances.

“We travelled from Kisumu to Nairobi last week to ensure the girl reports to school but she was turned back on arrival as she has a fee balance of more than Sh65, 000,” said Mr Oloo

Butere Boys sent a message to parents asking them to clear their children’s school fees ahead of reopening last week.