Education lobby group condemns financial mismanagement in schools, demands accountability

The Elimu Bora Working Group has urged the government to implement strict audits and accountability measures in schools following a report by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu which revealed widespread financial mismanagement in educational institutions.

Speaking during a media briefing on Sunday, the lobby group highlighted findings from the 2021/2022 Auditor-General’s report, which exposed severe irregularities in the management of funds in schools.

The group noted that parents, already burdened by rising education costs, continue to sacrifice financially, only for schools to misuse resources intended for improving learning.

The report revealed that 85 per cent of audited schools had significant financial discrepancies, while over 70 per cent failed to comply with accounting standards.

Governance structures were also found wanting, with 65 per cent of schools having inactive boards of management.

Excess fees

The group said it sampled 20 schools from the 99 audited and uncovered irregularities such as unauthorised fee hikes and procurement violations, with over Sh50 million in excess fees collected from parents.

Schools such as Moi Girls' High School Kamusinga, Maranda High School, and Nyamira Girls' High School were among those flagged for adverse audit findings.

The education working group called for strengthened oversight, transparent governance involving parents, and tighter policy reforms to safeguard public funds and ensure transparency.

"Enforce strict audits and accountability measures in schools and establish a competent school inspectorate system. School boards should be vetted and their performance assessed regularly. The government should also involve parents and stakeholders in decision-making processes. It should further tighten procurement and fee management guidelines to protect parents and ensure transparency," the group said.

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Kuria’s SHA comments

The group criticised recent remarks by President William Ruto’s economic adviser Moses Kuria, who suggested that students not registered under the School Health Assessment (SHA) programme would be barred from reporting to school in January.

The lobby described the directive as unconstitutional, citing the Basic Education Act, which mandates universal access to education, and Kenya’s Constitution, which guarantees every child’s right to free and compulsory education.

They urged the Ministry of Education to retract Kuria’s statement and reaffirm the government’s commitment to accessible education, arguing that administrative processes like SHA registration should not hinder children from attending school.

"The Ministry of Education should immediately clarify and retract Mr Kuria’s statement and reaffirm the government’s commitment to free and compulsory education for all children. It should ensure that administrative processes like SHA registration do not create unnecessary barriers to accessing education," the lobby said.

"Education is a fundamental right, and no child should face barriers due to misinformation or bureaucratic directives."

University funding case

The group also expressed concern over President Ruto’s comments on the ongoing court case regarding the Variable Scholarship and Loan Funding (VSLF) model.

Despite a court order halting its implementation, the President instructed the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to continue disbursing funds, an action the group says undermines the rule of law.

The Elimu Bora Working Group, in partnership with the Kenya Human Rights Commission, called for respect of judicial independence and the Constitution, asserting that actions to the contrary erode the integrity of Kenya’s legal system.

The group emphasised that addressing financial mismanagement in schools, ensuring children’s rights to education, and upholding judicial orders are crucial in building a transparent and accountable education system.