Govt urged to release secondary school funds

By Joel Okwayo

Secondary schools may not participate in co-curricula activities this term due to financial constraints, a Kenya Secondary School Head Teachers Association official has said.

Western Province association chairman Kahi Indimuli said yesterday head teachers face many difficulties in managing schools without the money.

"We are headed for the middle of second term and the calendar of events may not flow due to delayed disbursement of the funds," said Mr Indimuli.

He urged the Government to release the funds meant to subsidise secondary education to ease strain in schools.

Bursaries delay

Mr Indimuli, who is also the principal of Vihiga High, said schools could not rely on bursaries from constituencies, as MPs were also not processing applications from students on time.

The Government has allocated each secondary school student Sh10,245 a year.

He was speaking at Chango Secondary School in Vihiga during an Education Day presided over by Education Assistant Minister Ayiecho Olweny and local MP Yusuf Chanzu.

development goals

Prof Olweny said the Government has spent more than Sh34.9 billion since implementing free primary and secondary education.

Olweny explained Sh19 billion had been spent on primary schools and Sh15.9 billion to subsidise secondary education.

He said this was part of Government efforts towards affordable education for all as required in the Millennium Development Goals and the Children Act.

The minister, however, did not say when the money would be sent to schools, saying the matter was being worked out.

Government aware

"The money will be released as Government is aware of the programme," said Olweny.

The Government declared free secondary education in public schools in 2007 saying it would ease the burden on parents.

Kenya became the second country in Sub-Saharan Africa to implement the programme after neighbouring Uganda which launched a pilot programme in March 2007.