As secondary schools are reopening after a two-month break, principals are appealing to the national government, to release capitation for this year in full and on time.
The principals drawn from Murang’a secondary schools claim the issue of capitation is affecting the quality of education in the country and that as schools are resuming for the first term, it needs to be addressed urgently.
The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) National Chairman, Mr. Willy Kuria, briefing the press at the Teachers Service Commission offices in Murang’a, on behalf of the Head Teachers, said that they don’t have funds to run schools and are grappling with debt because the capitation that is due to be sent by the government, is not being received in full.
“School management have complained about the high costs of operations and failure by the government to remit capitation money in full, and in good time,” said Kuria
The Government allocates Sh 22,244 per learner annually, under the free day secondary school programme. The money is sent to schools in three trenches a year, where the first term receives 50 per cent, the second term 30 per cent, and the third term 20 per cent.
Kuria noted with concern that this being the first term, the schools are supposed to be receiving 50 per cent of the money stipulated. But so far they have received in their accounts about Sh 4,000 only.
“We are struggling, we are constrained. Without money in our accounts, we are unable to run the day-to-day activities of these schools,” he said, adding that already there is a deficit of around Sh 6,000 per child.
The Chairman said the government owes the learning institutions over Sh 64 billion in arrears due to partial remittance of the specified amount over the past few years.
Kuria who is also the Principal of Murang’a High School, said that last year, the amount of Sh 22,244 per student that was supposed to be sent to schools for tuition and operation costs, was not availed in full.
“Last academic year, we received a capitation of about Sh17,000 per student. And out of the money, we deducted Sh 5,000 for infrastructure development, which is not supposed to be the case, and other expenses such as textbook costs, and activities fees among others,” he said.
The Principal divulged that after the deductions, the money that remains per student is barely Sh 10,000 for the whole year. This makes it impossible to run the schools.
The Chairman noted with concern that the trend of inadequate capitation, is causing almost all secondary schools in the country to grapple with debt.
He further said that the situation in schools is very critical, hence forcing some school administrators, to seek the intervention of parents, to ensure that learning is not interrupted.