Schools’ operations in Limbo as release of capitation funds delays: Kuppet and Kessha issue ultimatum
Operations in most publics schools are in limbo over the delayed release of capitation funds by the Government. On the receiving end are School Heads and Principals who can not meet financial demands by Students, Teachers and Suppliers. The delay in release in capitation funds will also affect schools’ participation in this year’s Cocurricular activities.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) Chairman Willie Kuria has raised the alarm over the dire financial challenges facing schools due to delays in the release of capitation funds by the government. Kuria has warned that without the disbursement of Sh48 billion by the end of the week, schools may be forced to cease operations.
Also read: We are coming for you- Education Ministry tells School Principals charging extra fees
Two weeks after reopening, many institutions are struggling with unpaid bills and disconnected utilities.
โWe are at a crossroads. If action is not taken before the end of the week, schools will likely have to shut down,โ Kuria stated.
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Kuria reported that some institutions are already facing legal action over unpaid bills owed to suppliers.
โThis is an emergency. Some schools have pending cases in court, threatening their relationships with suppliers over arrears running into billions of shillings,โ he added.
Despite assurances from Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to release the Sh48 billion capitation as soon as last week no money has hit the schoolsโ accounts.
Kuria attributed the crisis to shortfalls carried forward from the previous year, during which the government failed to fully disburse capitation funds.
โLast year, schools received Sh15,244 per student instead of the expected Sh22,244. The shortfall of Sh7,000 per student was never paid, leaving schools with significant debts, including salary arrears,โ Kuria said.
He noted that these deficits have accumulated over the past five years to exceed Sh64 billion, creating a debt crisis that has paralysed many institutions.
Last term, Kessha officials met with Mr Ogamba to discuss the rising debts and delayed capitation. However, Kuria expressed frustration at the lack of concrete solutions.
โThe CS assured us he would do his best to ensure funds are disbursed but did not provide specific dates. It appears the issue lies with the Treasury,โ Kuria said.
The funding shortfall has forced some schools to send students home to collect fees, despite government directives prohibiting such actions.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has raised an alarm over a looming crisis in secondary schools; caused by delays in the disbursement of capitation. The union is accusing the Ministry of Education of making false promises about timely funding.
KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima said: โMany schools are already facing serious challenges including payment of suppliers, school contractors, workers and student accommodation. So the principals are shouldering the burden of debt in schools, yet the government is always pronouncing itself how leaners will find money in their schoolโs account.โ
The union is accusing the ministry of sabotaging education, saying that, in addition to delays in the first-term funds, the government has yet to clear debts owed to schools for nearly seven years.
This situation, they say, is giving headteachers a headache, with schools grinding to a halt, and most programmes and essential school activities affected by the lack of funds.
โThe government (should) release capitation money within seven days because our principals are dying because of stress. Principals are workers in this country, when they go looking for funds and taking credits to finance education yet the money is there, I donโt know where we are heading to,โ added Nthurima.
The post primary education union is now giving the government a seven-day ultimatum, warning that they will withdraw all their services from schools if in a weeksโ time schools have not received money.
KUPPET has also questioned the governmentโs insistence to host Grade 9 learners in primary schools yet there is a wastage of resources in high school including extra classrooms that were constructed during the late former Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magohaโs tenure and qualified teachers owing to the fact that no Form Ones were admitted this year.
โClassrooms in high schools have been left, the teachers have been left idle, the most qualified teachers, and particularly those who are in Sciences. Things like laboratories have nobody to use, sports equipment,โ Nthurima noted.
The union has also taken a swipe at the governmentโs pronouncement that primary school teachers with degrees will be promoted to teach in Junior Secondary Schools, questioning why the ministry has failed to promote high school teachers with Masters and PhDs.
