School Heads Threaten to Disrupt Learning Due to Delayed Capitation Payments

School Heads Threaten to Disrupt Learning Due to Delayed Capitation Payments

Thousands of students in schools nationwide may face being sent home starting next week due to the government’s failure to provide sufficient capitation funding.

The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) has voiced its frustration over the ongoing delays in the capitation payments for the second term.

School administrators expressed concerns that the postponement of over Ksh21 billion has left many institutions struggling with increasing debts and has forced them to make tough choices regarding resource distribution.

During a press conference on Saturday, May 3, the school leaders explained how the funding delays have started to jeopardize the stability of their schools, impacting critical operations, from administrative tasks to the upkeep of essential facilities.

“When there is a delay in government funding, it affects our services. For instance, we face delays in paying suppliers, which can lead to disruptions in timely deliveries,” stated one head teacher.

“The lag in capitation payments sometimes negatively impacts our schools’ performance. We urge the government to expedite the release of these funds to schools.”

This announcement follows Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba’s declaration the previous day regarding the government’s intention to release Ksh21 billion for public schools next week.

Speaking at the Naivasha Education Conference on May 2, Ogamba indicated that this funding would significantly assist school leaders in planning for the second term, which commenced on Monday.

He attributed the delays in fund disbursement to the government’s limited financial resources, noting that approximately 30 percent of the national budget is typically allocated to education.

“Some government-funded programs are very expensive, which has occasionally caused delays in the distribution of capitation funds to schools,” Ogamba acknowledged.

In addressing the issue, the Education CS also cautioned school leaders against imposing additional fees, emphasizing that the Ministry prohibits extra charges by schools.

The delays in these vital funds have raised concerns about the future stability of public education, especially as the government faces challenges in implementing Competency-Based Education.