Issues of delayed capitation this year caused some schools to close earlier than expected in the first term as principals no longer had resources to sustain the learners.
Education Cabinet Secretary Nominee Julius Ogamba Migosi has opened up on plans to ring-fence the capitation budget if approved to the docket.
While appearing before the National Assembly Appointments Committee on Thursday, August 1, Migosi said this is because education is a vital sector in the country, adding that delays in disbursing capitation funds which turn out to be inadequate hinder activities in schools.
To solve this, Migosi recommended that the ministry ought to have a discussion with the National Treasury to have capitation funds ring-fenced.
A group of school girls walking on the streets of Nairobi. /NMG
“The Ministry through Parliament can agree with the Treasury that the budget of the ministry be ring-fenced because it is a sensitive ministry. So that capitation can be released on time and in totality,” he said.
Issues of delayed capitation this year caused some schools to close earlier than expected in the first term as principals no longer had resources to sustain the learners.
This led to the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) threatening to hold a strike in April that would cripple learning over capitation.
Additionally, capitation has over the years gradually reduced from the expected Ksh22,000 to an average of Ksh17,000 for secondary school learners.
Migosi termed inadequate funding as the biggest problem in the education sector, saying “There is not sufficient money to cover all the programs and all the students in the country.”
“My thoughts are, the only way to solve the problem bedevilling the whole sector is to find a way of raising enough funds to ensure that the provisions of the constitution concerning education are covered.”
Ogamba said there is no clear audit to disclose how many students lack resources and the available funds to cover the needs of the said students.
He revealed that there is also a need to have an audit of the number of private organisations giving support to the learners.
“There are bursaries from the government and private sector, capitation, fees paid by parents, we need to know how much the country truly invests in education,” he said.
According to Migosi, the ministry ought to be aware of all school fee-collecting avenues to ensure equal distribution across the country.
