Major cash crunch hits schools

By Augustine Oduor

Schools are facing a major crisis following the delayed release of free education funds by the Treasury, three weeks to the start of national examinations.

Primary and secondary school heads who spoke to The Standard on Sunday said lack of funds would affect examination results as running schools had become difficult.

The delayed funds puts the Treasury on the spot again coming barely three weeks after teachers went on strike following failed allocation of cash to employ teachers.

The teachers said four weeks after the Government announced the release of Sh5.6 billion for third term, the money was yet to reach schools.

Parliamentary Committee on Education chairman David Koech last week asked the Government to release the cash immediately.

Learning time

A senior official at the Ministry of Education hinted to The Standard that the funds were yet to leave Treasury.

"We have been in talks with senior officials at Treasury and we expected the funds to be released to the ministry any time soon," said the official who did not want to be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Education PS James ole Kiyiapi however said cash meant for primary schools was sent out to schools last week, adding that secondary schools would get the cash this week.

Last week, the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) and Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) cautioned against further loss of learning time after a week-long teacher’s strike.

The heads associations said a lot of study time had been lost during the nationwide teachers strike and asked the Government to release cash immediately. The money will, among others, cater for tuition fees and learning materials.

School heads are now expressing fears that lack of these funds will hinder adequate preparations for upcoming national examinations.

A timetable released by Kenya National Examinations Council says Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education starts on October 18. The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam starts on November 11.

While announcing release of the funds, Kiyiapi said Sh3.6 billion would go to secondary schools, while Sh1.7 billion would go to primary schools.

Under the subsidised secondary education plan, each student is allocated Sh10,625 per year, with 1.7 million learners benefiting.

Sh1.3b has been allocated for tuition and Sh2.3 billion for school operations. Kiyiapi said Sh1,020 would be allocated to each of the 8.8 million pupils in primary for tuition, learning materials, and other school bills.