The government apparently seems to have made it a perennial habit to release funds for Free Primary and Secondary Education in piecemeal and essentially forcing headteachers to devise ways through which they can keep operations afloat.

As has been the case each year, headteachers are currently mulling increasing fees or close and send students home after the government disbursed only Sh4,000 for each learner instead of the anticipated Sh10,000.

The paltry Sh4,000 has left principals at a crossroads since the amount is insufficient to cater to most pressing needs for the institutions that are heavily indebted. Already a number of suppliers have taken several schools to court and are threatening to auction some of their property.

Last year, instead of the government disbursing Sh22,000 for each learner for the whole year, it only gave schools Sh10,000. So far, the government owes schools a cumulative Sh64 billion within a period of five years as a result of disbursing the funds in piecemeal.

The disbursement of funds to schools has been mired in confusion due to the frequent delays that are frequently blamed on financial constraints.

Besides, the capitation for schools is still at the rate at which it was stipulated ten years ago yet the cost of living has since doubled. There have been previous suggestions by headteachers calling for the increase from the current Sh22,000 to at least 35,000 per learner due to the skyrocketing cost of living, but the government has remained adamant without offering alternative for the headteachers.

In its early stages, the government had adopted a 50-30-20 per cent financing model where schools used to get the bulk of their capitation during the first term which ensured there was uninterrupted learning throughout the year. Unfortunately, the government has since abandoned this effective formula and resorted to the more unpredictable one.

Unless the government moves to streamline the disbursement of capitation to schools, headteachers may soon force parents to dig deeper in their pockets to fill the deficit. While it is true that the government is going through financial strains, this should not be used to stress teachers in running schools.