Headteachers of public schools across Kenya are sounding the alarm over the dangerously low and delayed release of capitation funds from the government, with some schools receiving as little as Ksh87.
The school leaders have warned that if this issue isn’t urgently addressed, many institutions could be forced to halt learning due to a lack of crucial resources.
In Nyanza, one school head expressed shock upon seeing only Ksh87 credited to their school’s account. Additionally, the head mentioned receiving a directive from the Ministry of Education advising school leaders not to request extra financial support from parents.
The school head further highlighted the worsening situation, with crumbling infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and unpaid bills adding to the strain, all while student enrollment continues to rise.
In a similar case, Ng’op Ngeso Comprehensive School in Nyanza reported receiving just Ksh4,000 from the government for the second term of this academic year. Headteacher Mark Onyango explained that the school, which has 215 students—58 in pre-primary, 125 in primary, and 33 in junior secondary—only has eight teachers in total, creating a severe staffing shortage.
Onyango emphasized that the capitation funds are insufficient to manage the school’s needs, including overcrowded classrooms for Grade 7 and inadequate facilities for junior secondary students. The school’s single teacher for junior secondary is struggling to cover multiple subjects, leaving primary teachers to take on additional classes.
In response, Nyanza Regional Director of Education, Lawrence Karuntimi, acknowledged he was unaware of the specific amounts involved but vowed to escalate the matter to the national government if the allegations were confirmed.
Kisumu County Education Executive John Awiti cautioned that the continued delays in funding and the underallocation of resources could severely impact the quality of education across the country.
The Ministry of Education has allocated Ksh22 billion for the second term’s funding, with Ksh9 billion earmarked for Free Day Junior School Education, Ksh118 million for Special Needs Education, and Ksh12 billion for Free Day Secondary Education.
