Schools Close as MPs Probe into Delayed Funding.
Numerous schools are closing this week for the April break, a decision influenced by the delay in disbursing capitation funds as legislators point fingers at the government for the ongoing financial holdup.
Recently, several high schools decided to close early, defying the official closing date of April 5 due to financial constraints. Some school heads allowed students to head home despite Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu’s announcement that the government has allocated Sh30 billion for distribution among primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.
Machogu assured that the funds would reach schools before the April break, indicating a delivery timeline by the end of this week. However, the funding delay prompted Members of Parliament (MPs) to voice their concerns.
Challenges Faced by School Principals
Malava MP Malulu Injendi, also the Education Committee’s vice-chairman in the National Assembly, criticized the two funding tranches received this year, deeming them insufficient to sustain school operations. Injendi highlighted the struggle of principals managing schools due to late disbursement, leading to some schools closing prematurely.
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Marakwet South MP Timothy Kipchumba emphasized that schools with low enrollments faced the most significant challenges due to their lower funding allocations. Confidential discussions with some school principals revealed dissatisfaction over the tardiness of capitation fund disbursement.
These principals expressed discontent over inadequate and delayed funds, with one from Machakos citing accumulated debts hindering their school’s viability. The situation is worsened by outstanding fees owed by current and former students, especially first-year students who often enroll without fee payments.
Low-enrollment schools bore the brunt of delayed capitation, exacerbating financial strains and affecting essential programs such as feeding schemes. Johnson Nzioka, chairman of the Kenya Primary School Heads Association, highlighted that delayed fund remittance disrupts feeding programs critical in retaining students in some areas.
Additionally, a Nairobi principal noted that practical circumstances compelled them to release students to relieve pressure caused by financial strains, emphasizing the crucial role of meals in student retention.
These challenges underscore the urgent need for streamlined fund disbursement processes to ensure uninterrupted school operations and vital programs like feeding initiatives, ultimately benefiting both students and educational institutions.
Schools Close as MPs Probe into Delayed Funding.