Heads Petitions Parliament to Intervene on Capitation
Secondary school heads have petitioned MPs to compel the government to release capitation for students at the approved rate of Sh22,244 per learner in the current financial year.
Kenya Secondary Schools Association further asked lawmakers to compel the National Treasury to release the deficit from 2019, which it said amounts to Sh54.2 billion.
National chairman Indimuli Kahi said releasing the deficit will enable schools to pay the “ever-rising” pending bills.
In his communication to the House, National Assembly Speaker Moses said the petitioner explained that in 2008, the rate per learner was Sh10,625, which was increased to Sh12,870 in 2015 and then Sh22,244 in 2018.
“In addition, public secondary schools were only allowed to charge boarding fees as set by the Ministry of Education,” the petition reads in part.
Wetang’ula said the petitioner is concerned that despite the increase in capitation per learner, the government subsidy for the Free Day Secondary Programme has consistently been lower than the actual enrolment.
He said the petitioner explained that some of the reasons that have caused the “worrying trend” include an increase in enrolment in January while utilising the previous budgetary allocations made in November/December of the previous year.
The petitioner further explained that several students have experienced challenges in obtaining birth certificates and are therefore not captured on the NEMIS platform which the Ministry of Education uses to disburse capitation based on the number of learners captured.
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The petitioner also cited partial disbursement of approved budgeted capitation since 2018.
Wetang’ula committed the petition to the Public Petitions Committee for consideration.
The association said it appreciates the continued support the government has accorded secondary schools through the Free Day Secondary Education programme since its inception in 2008 by granting capitation per learner.
The head teachers said the programme has enhanced access, retention and completion rates in secondary schools.
The association brings together over 10,000 head teachers drawn from public secondary schools across the country.
