Relief for schools as Gov't releases additional Ksh.14B capitation

The Ministry of Education has announced the disbursement of Ksh.14 billion in capitation, with a promise to release an additional Ksh.15 billion in the next few weeks.

The disbursement has been welcomed by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), who had threatened to shut down schools if the government failed to release the money.

"We have released Ksh.14 billion, and the remaining Ksh.15 billion will be given soon. Initially, we had planned for Ksh.19 billion, so there is no need for worry,” Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said.

Acting KUPPET Secretary General Moses Nthurima added: "We are hoping that the PS will keep his word and the money will hit our accounts tomorrow so that schools can start running normally again."

PS Kipsang issued a commitment that the government would release the remaining Ksh.15 billion in the next few weeks to cover capitation at both primary and secondary levels.

"The remaining amount is Ksh.15 billion... However, the government has been facing financial challenges,” Kipsang said.

The union has also faulted the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) over the ongoing promotion exercise of teachers and demanded that the exercise be carried out on a pro-rata basis.

KUPPET has taken issue with the criteria used to allocate the promotion slots, terming it unfair and discriminatory.

The union has faulted the teachers’ employer for distributing the slots equally across all counties and demanded that the commission fill the available slots on a pro-rata basis.

It also welcomed the High Court’s decision to halt KNEC's plan to administer mid-year KCSE exams, saying the decision by KNEC was discriminatory against private candidates.

"The union has taken issue with the criteria used to allocate the promotion slots, calling it unfair and discriminatory. It should be on a pro-rata basis. We also welcome the decision by the High Court to stop KNEC from administering exams in July. It is unfair to candidates,” said Nthurima.

"Even if they stop the July exams, we still have the November exams. We will continue with the November exams as planned,” PS Kipsang added.