Africa-Press – Kenya. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos on Wednesday claimed that the Treasury owes his ministry Ksh59 billion in capitation arrears, noting that the discrepancy was crippling learning in public schools.
While appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, CS Migos stated that for almost five years, the Ministry of Education has fallen short of the approved capitation rate for primary, junior secondary, and secondary school learners.
The CS added that the delayed disbursement by the Treasury has affected 1,424 learners in primary, 1,542 learners in junior secondary and 22,244 learners in secondary school, presenting insurmountable challenges to the Ministry.
CS Migos also indicated that learning is affected in the schools experiencing such challenges dealing a big blow to the performances and quality of teaching. He noted that school heads in the affected schools are faced with huge hurdles when it comes to ensuring the smooth running of the learning institutions.
“When you do not give enough money to the schools, there is evidence that the quality and performance of some of the schools may fall below the required standards because it becomes very difficult for the headteachers to run the school,” he told the Senate.
The CS, while responding to queries about the allocation and utilisation of capitation funds for schools, said that the funds being released by the Exchequer were not proportionate to the increasing number of enrolling students.
“The figures that are being disbursed by the Treasury against the requirement of the 100 percent transition policy are not proportional to the increasing number of students. The amounts have not been proportional to this number to meet the actual capitation that is given,” he added
The arrears amounting over five financial years are as follows:
The deficits affected the disbursement of capitation funds with public secondary schools being the most affected. “Secondary school learners were the most affected and continuously had a deficit against their approved rate of Ksh. 22,000(per student),” CS Migos revealed.
The deficits in secondary schools were as follows:
CS Migos notes that despite the Ministry changing the distribution strategy to release funds promptly, secondary school heads still decry the inadequate funds. “From the beginning of the financial year 2023/2024, capitation is now done promptly at a ratio of 50:30:20. 50 percent in the first term, 30 percent in the second term and 20 percent in the third term. This was a move from the quarterly distribution system. Even so, when the Exchequer fails to distribute the fund in a timely manner, problems arise.”
In early October, the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) threatened to close down the institutions. The looming financial crisis had threatened the preparation of national examinations due to kick off in early November.
However, CS Migos still maintained that the Ministry was adapting to the situation and reiterated his commitment to steady the ship amidst the heavy turbulence that was facing his docket.
“The financial challenge is an issue that as a Ministry we have to grapple with and see what else can be done and find solutions on where else we can efficiently run using these funds to ensure that we are able to uphold the standards that we have set,” he said.
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