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Learning resumes in schools across the country today after the short midterm break amid a cash crisis following delays in the disbursement of funds to learning institutions.

Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (KEPSHA) chairperson Johnson Nzioka yesterday said schools are cash-strapped, given that they are yet to receive full disbursement for the first term.

He said Junior Secondary School (JSS) has not received a penny since learners reported over a month ago.

“The problem we have at the moment is capitation for primary and JSS. For primary schools, we got a percentage that was not enough because it was not the usual amount disbursed for the first term,” Nzioka said.

Speaking to People Daily, Nzioka noted that schools usually receive 50 per cent of the capitation for first term but they have only received 20 per cent, saying learning institutions have been stretched to the limit.

He further noted that they are yet to receive guidelines on how to spend this money, because it is way below what they expect for schools to run smoothly.

“In primary schools, we expect to get 50 per cent of capitation for first term. This term, only 20 per cent has reflected in the account. Up to now, we have been expecting a circular from the ministry to guide head teachers on how to spend that money but this has not been forthcoming,” Nzioka stated.

He continued: “We are still expecting the ministry to give us a guideline on how to spend that money.”

On Junior Secondary, the KEPSHA chair revealed that schools have been promised that money is on the way and that it would hit their accounts by last week but nothing has been forthcoming.

 “We have been told that the money is on the way but it seems to have taken the long route to get to schools. We are asking the Government to try and take the shorter route because schools really need that money to cater for activities because up to now we have no money,” he stated.

In January, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said the Government will spend Sh9.6 billion for learners in JSS this calendar year. Machogu said President William Ruto has directed the National Treasury to set aside Sh15,000 per learner as capitation to facilitate free learning in all public schools.

He said public schools are prohibited from charging any admission fee for any Grade Seven learner due to the 100 per cent transition policy in the same school where they were enrolled in Grade Six.

Additional levies

“It, therefore, means that no school should charge any fees for Grade Seven learners unless such schools have boarding wings,” said Machogu.

The CS said in the next Financial Year, the government will spend Sh18 billion for JSS learners’ capitation grants.

Of the Sh15,000 that will be released for each learner, Sh4,000 will be spent on development of infrastructure with the greatest priority being on laboratories.

The capitation is capped at Sh1,400 per child but the head teachers have been calling for an increase of the amount to about Sh7,500. KEPSHA said reviewing the amount comes in the wake of high cost of living, with head teachers saying it will also improve the learning environment.

This came even as a section of secondary school parents complained of some principals now capitalising on additional levies in the name of remedial fees.

According to the parents, it has been a toll order to raise school fees but even after clearing the balance, their children are not allowed to classes until and unless they pay remedial fees.

They cited a school where they are required to first clear remedial fees of Sh1,800 for first and second term and Sh1,200 for third term, which brings to a total of almost Sh5,000 per year.

“We are struggling to raise school fees and then when we go to school, there are additional levies. For instance, you are told to pay Sh1,800 per term and raising that money on top of the over Sh25,000 for fees is not easy,” parents who sought anonymity.

“If you do not have remedial fees, you are sent to the head teacher to explain but in the long run, you are still told to go back home with your child yet you have paid full school fees. The money is paid in cash or via M-pesa but we are not given receipts,” they lamented.

They urged Machogu to come to their rescue, saying it is causing a serious strain.