Principals of Junior and Senior Secondary Schools have a reason to smile after the Ministry of Education and National Treasury reached a deal to disburse capitation money by next week.
State Department of Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang assured the public school principals across the country that the money was available and would be wired to their respective bank accounts without further delays.
The PS made the remarks during the launch of the Sh60 million Uasin Gishu ECDE milk programme at the Central primary school playground in Eldoret town which is set to benefit 40,000 learners in the region.
The event hosted by Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii was graced by former West Pokot governor John Lonyangapuo—the chairperson of the North Rift Waterworks development agency.
Kipsang was reacting to complaints by the principals over the government’s delay to release capitation funds noting that the move was threatening to ground the running of the institutions.
The principals complained that they have not received the free day secondary education capitation funds for the second term and that the situation was compounded by the failure of some parents to pay school fees.
According to Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association chairperson Indimuli Kahi, the principals observed that schools were in debt and surviving on the mercy of suppliers.
“If the suppliers get tired of waiting for payment and refuse to supply, schools will be grounded,” Kahi said.
According to Kahi, schools opened last week for the second term which he observed is the longest in the school calendar.
During the term, students in Form Four undertake mock examinations as they prepare for KCSE exams at the end of the year.
Kipsang revealed that the Ministry of Education had distributed 18 million books to grade seven learners to ensure smooth learning in all public schools in the country.
On his part, Governor Jonathan Bii said that his administration has put in place measures to ensure the milk programme is going to be sustainable.
"My government has put in place adequate measures to ensure this milk feeding programme for ECDE pupils is sustainable across the country and there should be cause for worry," Bii said.
The learners, he said will be supplied with milk twice a week noting that their aim is to attract more enrollment and retain the learners in ECDE.