State releases Sh5.5bn for free education

The Ministry of Education has moved to ease paralysis in public schools after it released Sh5.5 billion education funds almost a month after the second term started.

Education Principal Secretary Bellio Kipsang on Thursday said Sh3.8 billion will go to secondary schools while Sh1.7 billion is for primary schools.

“It will take time for money to reach schools,” said Dr Kipsang (top, right) who assured that the government had paid all the money.

Delay in releasing the funds had paralysed activities leading to protests from schools heads and teachers’ unions.

Schools reopened for the second term on May 2 and will run until August 4.

The government releases capitation to the learning institutions in three phases of 50 per cent for first term, 30 per cent (second term) and 20 per cent for third term.

In the current financial year the government has allocated Sh32.7 billion for secondary schools and Sh14 billion for free primary education.

Schools heads have been going through tough times due to high cost of food as well as lack of funds for the many co-curricular activities that take place during this term.

Kenya National Union of Teachers secretary-general Wilson Sossion asked the government to change its strategy on releasing the funds saying delays were hampering activities.

“Many school programmes had collapsed due to lack of funds and schools risked early closure with the compounded challenge of high prices of basic commodities,” said Mr Sossion.

At the moment parents are required to pay Sh53,554 for boarding school, Sh9,374 for day schools and Sh37,210 for special need schools, while the government provides a subsidy of Sh12,870 for each learner per year.