Relief for schools as government disburses Sh22 billion capitation

Relief has swept across schools nationwide as the government on Tuesday evening announced it has disbursed Sh22 billion to support public basic education.

The funds come as a much-needed boost for institutions that have been struggling with severe financial challenges since the start of the second term. With this allocation, schools are now set to resume normal operations.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed the release, saying the funds are meant to ensure smooth learning in primary, junior and secondary schools.

“The Government has today released Sh22,028,911,191.40 as capitation for Term 2 for learners in all public basic education institutions,” he said.

The CS said the amount had been shared across various levels: Sh1.37 billion for Free Primary Education, Sh8.9 billion for Free Day Junior School Education, Sh118 million for Junior School Special Needs Education, and Sh11.6 billion for Free Day Secondary Education.

According to Ogamba, this move is in line with the government’s obligation to provide free and compulsory basic education under Article 53(1)(b) of the Constitution.

“The release of capitation funds will facilitate the seamless conduct of school activities in the new term. The Government affirms its commitment to fulfil its duty to learners and educational institutions,” he said.

The CS urged school administrators to handle the funds responsibly and avoid burdening parents with illegal charges.

“School heads and principals are directed to ensure prudent use of these public resources entrusted to their care for the benefit of learners, and to desist from imposing any unauthorised levies. As a Ministry, we will deal firmly with any verified cases of misappropriation of resources and the imposition of unauthorised levies,” Ogamba said.

The funds come at a time when many schools were struggling to operate. Heads had warned that the delay in capitation had crippled their operations, forcing them to scale down essential services and compromise learning.

“There is no money in schools. We have entered the third week of term two, and there are difficulties in schools because this is affecting the quality of learning. We are limiting everything, and it’s not fair,” Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association Chairperson Willie Kuria said earlier.

“Day schools, especially, are not able to do anything. They are not able to pay salaries, conduct laboratory and technical lessons and cannot do open exams because they do not have anything. Some teachers have to buy their chalk to go to class,” he added.

According to Kuria, the government owed schools Sh2,300 per student from the previous term.

Many institutions, especially in rural areas, had been unable to print or administer exams, with learners left idle in classrooms.

“We’ve been waiting for the government to clear the arrears. We thought the funds would be disbursed before schools reopened to help us jumpstart operations, but nothing has come through,” he said.

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