School principals protest government underfunding.
Secondary schools began receiving Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) capitation money directly into their accounts on September 21, 2023. Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) National Treasurer Amos Cherono confirmed the distribution of cash to schools.
However, he highlighted reservations over the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) allocation of Ksh2,500 per pupil. Ksh500 is set aside for tuition, while Ksh2,000 is set aside to meet operating expenditures for the entire term. Cherono stressed that this financing is insufficient, especially given the pending obligations that schools must pay.
Cherono told Education News that schools had expected to get Ksh7,000 from the government to maintain smooth operations, but were disappointed by the much smaller amount they received.
He also mentioned that the lack of cash could make it difficult to deal with unpaid suppliers, some of whom may take legal action against the schools for perceived unjust treatment. Cherono said that schools might have to ask parents for payments to help with various areas of school administration, such as purchasing exercise books for their children.
According to reports, schools jointly owe suppliers more than Ksh29 billion in unpaid invoices, with certain school Principals avoiding confrontations with disgruntled service providers.
Dr. Belio Kipsang, Principal Secretary (PS) for Basic Education, announced on September 15 that the Ministry had received Ksh16 billion from the National Treasury for distribution to public primary, junior, and senior schools. By September 20, this allotment would be credited to the various school accounts.
Junior secondary schools would get Ksh1.7 billion, primary schools Ksh1.5 billion through Free Primary Education (FPE), and secondary schools Ksh12.9 billion through FDSE capitation.
