- Education PS Belio Kipsang' on Monday announced the government has released 25 per cent of the Sh65 billion to secondary schools.
- Azimio claims piecemeal disbursement risk eroding the quality of learning in public schools.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Azimio la Umoja coalition on Tuesday faulted the government for what they termed us setting school heads against suppliers in the piecemeal release of free secondary education funds.
Led by National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi, the more than 10 opposition MPs said the release of the funds in bits has made the lives of school’s heads difficult, forcing them to hide from suppliers.
They demanded that the government release the remaining Sh52.8 billion owed to schools in primary education and subsidised secondary schooling.
Every time the government announces release of funds, Wandayi said, suppliers camp in schools demanding payment, hence making it difficult for the school managers.
They accused the government of treating the issue of education casually, citing remarks by Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang that 25 per cent of what is owed to schools was wired just two weeks before institutions close.
“Given the foregoing, we demand that the government immediately stops the lies and releases the entire Sh52.8 billion owed to schools,” the Ugunja MP said.
“On the one hand, the government must also embark on timely disbursement of capitation funds, with the payment schedule made public to learners. On the other hand, the Ministry of Education must immediately cease the habit of withholding part of the school capitation without good reason.”
Wandayi was responding to Kipsang’s statement on Monday that public secondary schools will begin receiving funds for free secondary education next week.
The PS spoke when he appeared before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee.
Kipsang confirmed that the government has released 25 per cent of Sh65 billion allocated for free secondary education capitation.
“This morning (Monday) we had a discussion with my colleague from the National Treasury and shortly we are releasing up to 25 per cent of the outstanding capitation amount owed to secondary schools nationwide so that by the end of this quarter we can do 50 per cent,” the PS said.
“We expect that amount to hit accounts within the next 10 days.”
But the opposition questioned the logic of releasing funds when the term is almost ending as opposed to when the term starts.
“Funds are yet to be remitted to schools for Form 1 students in secondary schools, whose first term is set to come to an end in a matter of weeks. Equally, there is neither any commitment nor indication from the government that when schools reopen for second term, the monies will have been disbursed,” the Minority leader said.
Wandayi said the quality of education is destined for imminent fall should the Kenya Kwanza administration fail to address the issue of timely funding of schools.
“The present state of affairs in our schools is a great shame to this nation. The net effect of all these happenings is that schools will resort to provision of compromised basic education, which will have incalculable ramifications on standards of education in Kenya and the future of Kenyan children,” he said.
He was accompanied by MPs Robert Mbui (Kathiani), Timothy Wanyonyi (Westlands), Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West)James Nyikal (Seme), Jared Okelo (Nyando), Makali Mulu (Kitui Central), Sam Atandi (Alego Usonga) and Busia MP Catherine Omanyo, amongst others.
Makali accused the government of reneging on earlier commitment to release 50 per cent, 30 per cent and then 20 per cent for terms one, two and three, respectively.
“Any country playing around with education is playing with its future. We don’t understand why this sector is not getting all its funds yet other sectors are getting adequate funding,” the Kitui lawmaker said.