State to release Sh19b as schools reopen

Education Cabinet Secretary George Mogoha yesterday announced that the Sh 19 billion required for free Primary and Secondary education will be released by next week.

Speaking in Murang’a during a tour to assess the preparedness of the schools, Magoha said they are hopeful that treasury will release the money.

“Once the treasury releases this money it shall be wired to the schools by next week to facilitate smooth running of the institutions,” he said.

He warned teachers against sending the children home over fees, urging them to be patient with parents who have been hit hard by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Out of the Sh19 billion, Sh14 billion will go to secondary schools and Sh5 billion for primary education.

His sentiments came at a time when the Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association (Kepsha) chairman Nicholas Gathemia warned that there will be chaos in the 23,000 public primary schools as the government is yet to release cash to schools.

Gathemia regretted that unlike secondary schools, primary schools were never given funds to improve on infrastructure or prepare schools for reopening.

Magoha, however, urged teachers to be innovative and explore other options such as outdoor learning to decongest classrooms once the schools reopen next week.

He said that the issue of social distancing is bound to be a big challenge as there are not enough classes to accommodate the students as per the regulations by the ministry of health.

He explained some schools have more than 5,000 learners and with only 51 classes, which translate to an average class size of 98, it will be impossible to observe social distancing.

“If the weather allows, the students can move out where there is more space and the learning shall go on,” he said.