- Last capitation was Sh322m for over 146,000 disabled learners
- Each learner gets Sh2,300
Image: GEORGE MURAGE
The Senate Committee on Education has scolded the government for the low capitation fees allocated to schools for children with special needs.
The committee on Friday hit out at the Ministry of Education for the continued suffering of students and staff in the institutions that cater for disabled minors.
The committee, meantime, rejected a proposal by the Ministry to charge parents for part of the capitation for their children who have special needs.
The committee chaired by Senator Joseph Nyutu met senior officers from the ministry to explain the problems facing the institutions.
The Murang’a senator said it was unfair to allocate less money to educate special needs children, especially as the Education ministry receives the lion’s share of the annual budget.
“Since 2018, capitation fees to special schools have stagnated, despite the number of students and the living costs,” he said.
Addressing the press on the sidelines of the meeting at Lake Naivasha Resort, Nyutu said the ratio of caregivers to students was also inadequate.
“Other learning institutions get their capitation funds on time but the special schools always suffer and we shall raise this issue with the Cabinet Secretary for Education, he said.
Nominated Senator Peris Tobiko said a 2018 proposal by the Ministry to have the capitation funds to the schools reviewed was never submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
“The equipment needed by minors in these schools is expensive and we are saddened there is a perennial delay in releasing the cash,” she said.
Laikipia Senator John Kinyua lashed out at the Ministry over the increasing financial disputes in the last couple of months despite it being allocated more than Sh650 billion.
“Currently there is a dispute over university admission and Helb loans and this has been coupled by failed capitation to special schools,” he said.
Deputy director of special needs education Abdi Moulia Abdi admitted capitation funds to the schools had been delayed but said this had since been sorted. He did not comment on the stagnation of funds.
“We prepared a proposal in 2018 seeking to review the capitation fees for special schools but unfortunately this has not been implemented,” he said.
Director of Higher Education Darius Mogaka told the committee the presidential taskforce on education reforms had made its recommendations on the capitation fees. He did not disclose the recommendations.
“We are waiting for the recommendations of the taskforce to be implemented and the issue of funds to special schools will be fully addressed,” he said.