Sh20b delayed capitation funds cripple KCSE preparations

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba during the start of Kenya Primary Schools Education Assessment, Mathematics paper at Westlands Sub-County Headquarters in Nairobi on October 28. [Stafford Ondego, Standard] The Sh20 billion owed to schools by the government has crippled operations for national examinations. Head teachers warned that failure by the Treasury to release the funds will affect candidates' performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). They said said that for the last three years the National Treasury has failed to disburse full capitation of 22,244 to each student making it difficult to run schools. Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) Chairman Willie Kuria noted that the government owes each student Sh6,000 this year making it difficult to procure materials for practical subjects. "As we speak, schools are running under their feet. We are unable to move an inch for the remaining days," he said. Kuria said schools coffers have run dry and are struggling to survive. "Our food supply, learning materials as well as paying support staff are in arrears. We have held a begging bowel to banks and now we can't access loans anymore," he said. Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary General Akelo Misori faulted the government for not facilitating schools to administer exams. "How do you talk of credibility of exams when you cannot facilitate it's seamless administration. You cannot expect this to work without funding, teachers need to facilitate learners in this," he said. Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Collins Oyuu said: "Is very simple, give schools funding and the principals will administer papers in a conducive environment. Good results need investment in it." Recently Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the government has put in place measures to ensure students sit for their examinations without any challenges."As Government we have put in place all measures to ensure all registered students are given opportunity to sit for national examination without any challenge," he said. A principal in Nairobi who sought anonymity said government has focused on wrong priorities instead of investing in essential requirements. "As much as we require security, the government has misplaced priority. We want equipment but they are telling us how they have put in place security measures to secure exams," he said. Kuria who is also Murang'a High School principal observed that a week to the practical subjects, schools have not procured chemicals. "Students are expected to sit for Science practicals but our hands are tied up, we don't have money to buy them," he said. Machakos School principal Benson Manoo said it costs schools to administer practical subjects making it impossible to do without funding. "A full set of chemistry chemicals ranges between Sh200,000 and half million. Biology and physics requires an arm's length fund," he said. Apart from science subjects, students enroll in technical subjects including woodwork, electricity, power mechanics, home science, agriculture and computer.Kuria pointed that principals are under pressure to keep schools going without funding. "The funding was disbursed last term which we have run institutions until end of third term. We have exhausted our coffers and now rely on suppliers," he stated.He revealed that the financial challenges have caused majority of teachers to fear heading schools. "As we speak, several schools have been there taken to court by suppliers for owing them after delivering services to our learners. This has led to depression and even death of our teachers," he said. The Kessha boss further said if the trend continues, many public schools will run down. "For the three years we are owed Sh64 billion and if this goes on, we will go the university way where some have been declared insolvent. Day schools that depends on government capitation are now bearing the biggest brand," he said.

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