The delayed capitation for both primary, junior and senior secondary schools begun to reach the schools accounts a fortnight ago. What was expected as a relief by most heads of institutions was watered by the realization that the released amount was a smaller percentage of the expected 50 per cent allocated to first term.
Most school administrators who purely rely on government funding were seen trying to craft strategies on how to pay their creditors. Since schools reopened in January, principals and headteachers have been having rough time with supplier’s and members of the surbodinate staff who thronged their offices demanding for their payments.
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Two weeks down the line, the school managers continue to be stressed by the failure of Ministry of Education to release capitation guidelines usually known as vote heads circular. Free primary and free day secondary education (FPE and FDSE) circulars procedurally accompany the release of capitation funds.
The circulars are meant to guide the school administrators on the prudent use of funds with strict adherence to the voteheads. The circulars always stipulate amount of money allocated to each learner per vote head.
An interview with a number of head teachers and principals across the eight regions revealed anxiety coupled with pressure as they upto now lack the circulars operationalizing the received funds. Most administrators have for the last one week been jamming the subcounty and county Directors officers on the way forward.
“My county has promised to communicate the way forward after consulting the regional office” replied one of the principals who said was stuck as the pressure continue mounting. Already some county Directors have instructed the principals and head teachers to follow a particular formula as they wait for formal communication from the principal secretary’s office.
Approval of Maintenance and improvement (MI) projects and planning of drama, games and sports for first term are at an advanced stage in most counties across the country. This is going on despite the absence of Capitation circulars.This,most administrators fear that it will raise audit queries when accounting for the same funds.
By Josph Kiptoo
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