KNUT tells Govt to stop lying about release of capitation funds

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) now wants the government to clarify the confusion surrounding capitation funds.

Kipkelion KNUT Executive Secretary David Bore says that despite the government’s promise, schools in the country are yet to receive the funds.

He highlighted that the delayed funds have put schools in a dire situation, causing them to be unable to pay their debts or suppliers and contractors.

“The government frequently announces that it has released capitation funds, but when we look in the account, there is nothing. We want to ask the government to clarify whether it can still run the free primary and subsidized secondary education program,” Bore said.

He told the government to declare whether it can still support the free primary education and subsidized school education programmes.

He lamented that although primary education ought to be free, heads of schools have been forced to send demand fees from parents.

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“When such delays persist, school heads have no option but to demand school fees from parents. This is unacceptable since it is against the government’s agenda for free education,” he remarked.

Bore also pointed out that the government’s reduced monetary allocation to schools and unfulfilled promises have frustrated and disillusioned education stakeholders.

“Many schools now have huge debts from suppliers and contractors. Boards of Management teachers and other staff have not been paid because of the government’s continued lies, especially the Ministry of Education, where the Cabinet Secretary announces that money has been released when it is not.

We also have an emerging problem where the government has started slashing monetary allocation to schools, which has made the institutions unable to use and even buy chalk,” added Bore.

The Union is urgently calling for the release of the funds, as the delay has left teachers and other staff without salaries for several months.

By Kimutai Langat