Knut demands release of free education cash

Kenya: The national government is on the spot for failing to release free primary and secondary schools education funds, a month after public schools reopened.

This has forced many schools to send learners home, with school heads complaining that it is becoming impossible to keep them in school.

As a result, a teachers' union has threatened to call for mass action to force the Ministry of Education to release the funds and ensure smooth running of education in the country.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General Wilson Sossion accused the Government of failing to live up to its promise to deposit free education funds in school accounts before schools opened.

"The Government issued a directive that free education funds would be released to school accounts before schools reopened but one-and-a-half months down the line, it's still a directive. This shows that the Government is giving the education sector a raw deal and they are not committed to solving issues ailing the sector," said Mr Sossion.

The Knut boss wondered why the Government was keen to regulate fees charged by schools yet failed to release funds to boost service delivery in the same institutions.

Poor leadership

"There is under-staffing in public schools, forcing them to hire additional teachers. Schools are running out of supplies and this can only be solved by charging extra levies on parents. The education sector is suffering due to poor leadership," he said.

Deputy President William Ruto recently directed the Education ministry to issue guidelines on fees charged by schools to ensure parents were not exploited.

He said action would be taken against schools heads found disregarding the rules and charging exorbitant fees. Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers Chairman Omboko Milemba said secondary schools had already received 50 per cent of the funds allocated and were waiting for the remainder in subsequent terms.

"That's the required amount for schools in the first term. The schools will receive 30 per cent in second term and 20 per cent in the last term. For primary schools, I am not so sure about that," said Mr Milemba.

Kenya National Association of Parents Secretary General Musau Ndunda asked the Government to comply with the law and release the funds to ease school functions but urged school heads to be accountable.

Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, who spoke to The Standard by phone, promised to call back on the matter but by the time of going to press, he had not returned follow up calls.