The school heads through their representatives have urged the national government to ensure timely release of funds for the primary and secondary school funds for smooth operations in various learning institutions. This is in order to avoid fees increment in 2024.
This comes after the Ministry of Education through the CS confirmed to parents that the government has no plans to allow fees increment in public schools.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) chair Kahi Indimuli has said that even with the increase in capitation per learner which moved from Ksh. 12,870 in 2015 to the current Ksh. 22,244, the free education in secondary school is still underfunded.
With the 6.91% increase in enrollment in public schools, the funding has remained the same. This means that funding has always been lower than enrollment leading to deficit.
However, even with the less capitation per learner at Ksh. 22,244, the ministry has been disbursing less funds to schools. The chairman said that not all learners have been captured in the NEMIS portal.
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Inadequate funding by the government has led to schools laying off workers and teachers (BOM) due to incapability to pay them. Failure to improve infrastructure has also led to overcrowding affecting learner individual attention.
Mr Indimuli said that the government should release all deficits that have accrued since 2019. And also NEMIS to be enabled to update learners that have not yet been included in the system for capitation to avoid fees increment in 2024.
“We want the immediate release of the deficit from 2019 amounting to Ksh. 54.2 Billion. Also release capitation at the approved Ksh. 22,244 per child for the financial year 2023/24 and factor in the total enrollment in secondary schools.”
The school heads representatives also took time to address the issue of teacher promotions. Kenya Primary School Headteachers Association (KEPSHA) national chairman Johnson Nzioka pushed for the same. He urged the government to promote teachers who have furthered their studies.
“Recognise and promote primary school teachers and Headteachers who have furthered their studies. Include a budget line for KEPSHA and Children’s Council activities in the capitation grant for ease of operation.”