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Caption for the landscape image:


WHY PRINCIPALS ARE SET TO INCREASE SCHOOL FEES NEXT WEEK

Sunday, June 30, 2024

Scroll down to read the article

Murang’a High School Principal Willy Kuria celebrates after being elected Kenya
Secondary Schools Heads Association chairman at Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Hall in
Mombasa on June 24, 2024. 

Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group

By  Winnie Atieno

Nation Media Group

 * Summary
 * Article
 * Related


WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

 * Mr Kuria said Sh53,000 in school fees is not enough to run national schools.
 * The association urged parents to pay school fees on time adding that schools
   have huge pending bills.


THANK YOU FOR READING NATION.AFRICA



Show plans

Principals say they will be forced to increase school fees starting next term
after the government reduced capitation per learner.

This is a big blow to parents whose children are returning to school starting
Monday, July 1, 2024 from the one-week half-term break.

Principals will be forced to find alternatives to keep the schools going after
the government said it will not be able to disburse the Sh22,244 capitation per
year per learner but instead stick to Sh17,000.

“Principals will have to contend with the Sh17,000 capitation we have been
disbursing. It will not be possible to disburse Sh20,000 capitation per year per
learner,” said Education Cabinet Secretary Mr Ezekiel Machogu.

Speaking to Nation, the CS further pledged to ensure the capitation is disbursed
on time.

The principals had proposed the fees to be increased from Sh53,000 to Sh69,000
for National School due to inflation and the high cost of living schools are
grappling with.

Last week, the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association converged at Sheikh
Zayed Hall, in Mombasa county to deliberate on critical issues affecting the
sector including late disbursement of capitation.

Kessha National Chairman, Mr Willy Kuria told Nation that the conference was
crucial for the stakeholders to take stock of the successes, challenges and
solutions.

Mr Kuria said Sh53,000 in school fees is not enough to run national schools.


RAISE SCHOOL FEES

“There was a time we had asked the state to raise school fees,  but by then we
wanted it to be raised to Sh69,000. The Ministry has our fee increment document
proposal. The whole concept of school fees and capitation should be relooked
at,” said the Kessha National Chairman.

While schools are supposed to receive a capitation of Sh22,244 a learner per
annum, this year, they have received half. 

“Out of the Sh22,244 capitation a student is supposed to receive, the state has
so far disbursed Sh12,000 slightly 60 per cent. That money is inadequate to run
schools for a year. That is why we are insisting we need to come up with a new
funding programme for secondary schools,” said Mr Kuria.

Mr Kuria said the institutions have been grappling with capitation challenges.

Mr Kuria said this is the best time for Kenyans to rethink on how to refinance
education.

“Capitation is a key issue. The money that is being disbursed from the Treasury
is Sh17,000 instead of Sh22, 244. Then you are asked to set aside Sh5000 for
infrastructure development and you are left with Sh12,000 some Sh2600 is taken
for centralized procurement of books and activities, leaving schools with around
Sh10,400 for tuition and operation,” said Mr Kuria.

Mr Kuria said when the Free Day Secondary Education program was initiated in
2008, schools were getting a capitation of Sh10,260.

“This means that what was available in 2008 is still what we are getting despite
the inflation. The ministry retains funds for EduAfya and textbooks. Has the
time come to bring parents on board and ask them to pay for school fees?” said
Mr Kuria. 

Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), acting secretary
general Moses Nthurima said disbursement of capitation funds is a key challenge
in secondary schools.

“Kuppet is aware that, as I speak here, schools have a deficit of Sh3,000 for
the first term. Nothing so far has been remitted for Term Two which will soon
come to a close,” Mr Nthurima told Nation.

He condemned the Ministry of Education for retaining activity funds.


DEVELOP TALENTS

“This has thrown the management of co-curricular programmes into disarray. How
are schools going to identify and develop talents when they can’t even take
students for competitions?” he wondered.

He said he has attended national co-curricular events where the number of
Ministry officials outranked that of teachers.

“These officials do not train players. They do not officiate at marches nor do
they manage teams. Their only interest in the events is financial gain, which
unfortunately comes at the expense of nurturing and developing talents,” added
the Kuppet boss.

He challenged CS Machogu and his PS, Dr Belio Kipsang’, to revert the funds to
the principals so that our teachers can be facilitated to manage co-curricular
programmes.

The National Parents Association chairman Mr Silas Obuhatsa blamed the state for
the predicament saying schools are bankrupt.

“Principals are in a dilemma. But how do principals run these institutions
without funds?” he wondered. 

The association urged parents to pay school fees on time adding that schools
have a huge pending bill arising from non-payment of school fees.

On Wednesday last week, the government urged principals to live within their
means with the capitation sent to schools due to financial constraints besieging
the state.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said the state is grappling with financial
challenges due to huge wage bills and public debt.

“We have had challenges with escalating public debt and wage bills. We collect
Sh2.2 trillion, yearly which goes into paying the public debt and wages. We are
left with no alternative but to borrow for our developments after we give a
share of revenue to counties,” said the DP.

Mr Gachagua said the delays in disbursement of capitation is beyond anything the
government can do. He assured the principals that the state is streamlining
systems for the timely release of funds.

“I ask for your indulgence. We will ensure capitation is released on time. But
we call for prudent management of resources,” said the DP.

He further urged the principals to come up with income-generating projects
including farming. Those with land, the DP urged them to come up with
income-generating projects like rearing dairy cattle and starting bakeries.

watieno@ke.nationmedia.com




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 * PREMIUM THE CRISIS IN SCHOOLS, COLLEGES
   
   Government has not remitted billions of shillings meant for various education
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   Education Jun 07


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