After a long wait in the release of capitation funds from the Ministry of Education (MoE), schools are now confirming that the cash has began to hit several school accounts.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) through National Chairman, Willie Kuria has confirmed that schools with accounts at the Co-operative Bank have received the money and asked the rest to check with their various banks by tomorrow.
” Yes, the money has started trickling into some school accounts across the country. The figures are between 20-25% of the total capitation expected this term. We expect the Ministry to disburse 50% of the capitation allocation for this term. But this problem of low disbursement has been persistent despite our pleas” Said Kuria.
This should be a welcome relief to schools following some confusing communication from the MoE on the much-anticipated disbursements. Last week, Education CS, Dr. Julius Ogamba revealed that the Government had released Shs.19bn to schools in capitation funds and went ahead to disclose the specific voteheads on the expenditure of the cash.
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KESSHA said the disbursed amount is not enough to take care of operations in schools and was categorical that the received funds had already been spent through credit from different service providers as they waited for the disbursement.
“We are asking MoE to consider convening a stakeholders meeting with all concerned parties to discuss the issue of delay and low disbursement of capitation funds to schools. This nagging issue is seriously affecting activities in learning institutions” added the KESSHA boss.
He also appealed to MoE to consider reviewing the disbursement rates from what was set in 2014 to address the rising costs of living and other inflationary considerations. He further stated that the Shs. 22,400 allocated in capitation per year to schools was a drop in the ocean given that out of this Shs 5,000 is set aside for infrastructure with other deductions.
On the same note, Kuria asked the Ministry to consider increasing current school fees paid to schools to address changing circumstances since they were last reviewed in 2014. He said that the fees wich are currently pegged at Shs. 53,000 for national schools and Shs. 43,000 for extra county schools per year were no longer sustainable with rising costs of living.
By our reporter
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