The current cash crunch schools are facing can compromise the quality of education, Karachuonyo MP Adipo Okuome has said.
Speaking at Gendia High School on Wednesday, he said the financial crisis has also been caused by a delay in the disbursement of capitation funds and NG-CDF funds.
“The government should remit capitation and NG-CDF funds with immediate effect to support education of students and running of schools,” Okuome said.
He was presiding over a celebration to mark good results in which the 381 out of 399 candidates of Gendia High School qualified for university entry in the 2024 KCSE exam.
Also in attendance were Homa Bay Kuppet executive secretary Stephen Yogo and his Knut counterpart Patrick Yogo.
Lack of Form 1 students whose admission generates revenue for running schools in the first term has also contributed to the financial shortages.
Okuome said quality education cannot be achieved if schools operate in financial crises as NG-CDF plays a pivotal role in funding schools through bursary allocations.
“A good government protects the interest of its citizens. Let the government enhance the quality education by releasing NG-CDF and capitation funds as soon as possible,” Okuome said.
Principal James Okeno said the delay in remission of capitation funds has caused difficulties.
“We can neither pay workers nor settle the school bills. The situation is bad,” Okeno said.
He said lack of Form 1s in schools is a serious setback to revenue in schools.
“Previously, Form 1 students’ admission used to give us a lot of revenue. The revenue was used to rescue the situation in case of a delay in capitation funds disbursement,” Okeno said.
Yogo told the government to stop empty promises in the remission of capitation funds. He said schools cannot run without money.
Yogo said the lack of caption funds is giving school principals economic pressure.
“The government had promised to remit the money in a week’s time. Let the government keep the promise and release the money faster,” Yogo said.
Were said most schools are run with money from head teachers’ pockets, which is uncalled for.
“Head teachers and principals are suffering by running schools with their own money yet their salaries were paid on December 19,” Were said.
“The government has also said head
teachers should not send students
home for fees.”