Alarm over stalled projects due to delayed capitation fees in secondary schools

Heads of secondary school in Suna West have complained about the delayed capitation fee to secondary schools making most of activities to stop.

While addressing the issue, Jacktone Ogola of St. Peter’s Abwao Boys’ Secondary School said that most of them have not been able to run schools smoothly due to delay of the fund.

“Up to this point, we have not been able to receive capitation fee from the government, making it hard for all principals,” said Ogola.

Stalled school programs

Ogola who also doubles as the chairperson of Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) in Suna West added that the several activities have also stalled due to the fund’s delay.

Ogola said that most of them depend on the capitation fee to bill electricity, subordinate staff salaries, water and other development projects in the schools.

He admitted that the delay by the government to remit the capitation fee therefore, makes the school management a hard nut to crack.

“I admit that as the head of secondary schools in Kenya, we are facing financial crisis and the government must take timely action,” he added.

Fixed budget-fund allocations

Ogola said that most of them are unable to divert the funds they receive from the government because each fund disbursed comes with a specifications highlighting how the fund is spent.

He therefore, pleaded with parents to pay fees in time so as to enable them effectively implement the curriculum and co-curricular activities.

“We therefore plead for timely payment of the school fees to enable us make effectively implement the curriculum,” added Ogola.

The Suna West KESSHA chairperson said they depend on the school fees to now cater for the feeding and running the school as well.

The dictatorial tax

The principal also rubbished the proposed 3% housing tax for the civil servants saying that it is not realistic and need to be reviewed.

Ogola pleaded with the Kenya Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) to defend teachers from what he terms as exploitation by the government.

His pleas came after the pronouncement by President William Ruto that he will ensure that the proposal is implimentented.

The Principal said that the nation is currently facing problems of high cost of commodities and the implementation of the housing tax will be dictatorial.

The proposal is contrary to Ruto’s promises during campaigns to make life better for Kenyans especially by lowering the prices of commodities to accommodate all the low income earners.