The minister of education warned principals against sending students home for not paying school fees, as the ministry released SH24bn in capital funding for secondary and primary schools.
Education cabinet secretary Ezekiel Machogu has fallen short of SH4bn, from the initial amount promised to handover to schools a week ago. This comes amid reports that schools have initiated sending students home to collect fees, as distribution of the funds were delayed. However, 85% of the school fees were paid by the parents, reported Mr. Machogu.
Although the schools have received the finance, educational stakeholders and school principals argued that, due to the large debts school owe, the finance is insufficient to cater. Principals spoke to nation regarding conditions of anonymity claiming that they are struggling to run the schools.
Circulars to be issued with guidelines as to how the funds are to be utilized, a request by the student’s heads to the ministry of education.
National chair of the Kenyan union of post primary education teachers and Emuhaya MP, Omboko Milemba, informed, the promise CS have made the national assembly that schools would receive SH28bn, but fell short on their delivery by SH4bn. He said he wanted Kenyans to know that the final figure was SH24bn only, and the CS lied to parliament. Mr. Milomba wanted an explanation for the lies.
He added, the finance received will clear the debt for 2022. The schools will utilize the money to pay the last years debt, but informs, expenses undertaken in school for the current year such as tuition, have not been received for.
Mr. Machogu informs that the boarding fees school collects from parents and are not broke as principals claim, he said there is no crisis in schools.
Around SH53000 is collected per child in national schools, as it’s known that parents do pay school fees. There is no cause for alarm. Finance has been delivered, and the delay was the result of a public holiday, however things are okay, informs the CS.
CS at an interview with nation informed, the fees collected by schools should be utilized prudently as they await the capitation.
He added, only about 15% don’t pay fee, however, 85% of responsible parents pay fees according to data. Schools are strictly not allowed to send students home due to nonpayment of fees.
