Kenya Teachers Union Urges School Funding Action
Kenya Teachers Union Urges School Funding Action. The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) is questioning the government’s school funding scheme, citing a deficit that jeopardizes institutional operations. Kuppet issued a statement on Wednesday, giving the government a seven-day deadline to release the owed funds to schools.
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Instead of the projected Sh11,122 for the first term, the government only provided Sh3,877 per school, leading to concerns raised by Kuppet Secretary General, Akello Misori, about delayed capitation release. Misori criticized the reduction in school spending, which contradicts the principle of free and compulsory education, and highlighted negative consequences such as suppliers suing schools over outstanding invoices. Kuppet has warned of a potential teacher strike if the government fails to deliver capitation monies upon schools reopening for the second term, recalling the last teachers’ strike in 2015. Headteachers and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) also expressed worry about insufficient funding in the school sector.
Dr. Kipsang informed Members of Parliament that only 25% of the cash had been issued, with the remainder expected within the next 10 days. Misori questioned the government’s decision to withhold funds previously allocated for student medical insurance, advocating for their redirection to schools, and criticized the Ministry of Education for retaining funds for various activities while reducing capitation funds.
Despite a significant increase in student enrollment over the last six years, the Ministry of Education admitted a Sh22 billion budget shortage, leading to a reduction in capitation from Sh22,224 to about Sh17,000 per student. Negotiations with the National Assembly Committee on Education are underway to address the deficit, with the remaining funds set aside in the 2024–2025 budget allocation. Kuppet chairman, Omboko Milemba, urged the ministry to present its case for full capitation to Parliament to secure deficit funding and called for an assessment of the student population in public schools to reduce anomalies, including instances of “ghost students.” Milemba also expressed concerns about technical issues in the Nemis education management system, leading to the denial of financing to some students.
Kenya Teachers Union Urges School Funding Action.