On infrastructure, the CS noted that 14,500 classrooms have been constructed out of the targeted 16,000, with plans to complete the remainder by the end of the month. Additionally, the government is set to construct 1,600 laboratories this year to equip JSS students for science subjects
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba yesterday admitted to significant delays in capitation funds for schools but assured the public that efforts to resolve the issue are underway. Speaking during a visit to Umoja and Migadini Comprehensive Schools in Mombasa for the pilot of a special Parents’ Day initiative to register parents and students for the Social Health Authority (SHA), Ogamba confirmed that the Ministry of Education received Ksh.19 billion of the expected Ksh.48 billion, which has already been disbursed.
“The capitation this term faced some challenges. We were supposed to receive Ksh.48 billion, but we managed to receive Ksh.19 billion yesterday, which has been disbursed. An additional Ksh.15 billion will be released tomorrow. We expect to complete the full Ksh.48 billion within one or two weeks to ensure all schools have the necessary resources,” he said.
Ogamba urged school heads not to send students home, emphasizing that funds are on their way. “Those with accounts in KCB have already received capitation for Junior and Primary Schools,” he noted.
The announcement follows growing concerns from the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KSSHA) about severe financial constraints. KSSHA Chairman Willy Kuria revealed that schools face a deficit of Ksh.7,000 per learner, compounded by Ksh.64 billion in capitation arrears accumulated over the past four years.
Ogamba also addressed concerns about learning disruptions in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) due to teacher shortages, dismissing such claims as misleading. He highlighted the government’s efforts, including the employment of 76,000 teachers and the re-tooling of others.
“We have ensured that each Junior School has teachers to ensure smooth learning. All required textbooks are available on a 1:1 ratio per student, and we recently employed 20,000 teachers, particularly for science subjects where there was a shortfall,” he explained.
On infrastructure, the CS noted that 14,500 classrooms have been constructed out of the targeted 16,000, with plans to complete the remainder by the end of the month. Additionally, the government is set to construct 1,600 laboratories this year to equip JSS students for science subjects.
“This year, we are also working on building 7,800 more classrooms to ensure every school has sufficient infrastructure,” Ogamba added, reiterating the government’s commitment to addressing challenges as they arise.
