Govt releases Sh3.7bn for free secondary education

Education minister Sam Ongeri. Photo/FILE

What you need to know:

Funds released as schools' operations nearly grounded with students being sent home, as the economic crisis continues to bite

The Government has given out Sh3.7 billion to rescue the Free Secondary Education (FSE) as operations in the schools nearly ground to a halt.

This was the first tranche to be released this year, as the free education programme in secondary schools entered its second year.

Coming too late in the term, some public schools in the Rift Valley province had already began sending their students back home while others reportedly skipped the national drama festivals due to lack of money.

Education Minister Sam Ongeri, while releasing the funds on Friday, quickly moved to quell fears that the free education programme was nearly collapsing.

“I wish to assure Kenyans that regardless of the challenges we face, this programme will continue to be funded and implemented as scheduled,” said Prof Ongeri at his office in Jogoo House.

With Friday’s tranche, the money dispatched to the FSE since last year is nearly Sh17 billion.

Citing a biting economic crisis that has inconvenienced other programmes as well, the minister disputed reports that free education funds have been diverted to other engagements by the Government.

“All funds invested under Free Primary Education, FSE, secondary school bursaries and school feeding are ring-fenced and thus protected,” he said, adding that this meant investments in the programmes cannot be reduced or diverted to other areas.

FPE funds have also not been released for this term as well, but Prof Ongeri pledged to gave Sh2.6 billion to the schools next week.

The programme entered its sixth year and has been beleaguered with delays inconveniencing the schools and their suppliers again and again.

But Ongeri said schools had received allocations in December last year and were expected to still have some remaining until they received this allocation.

He warned of disciplinary action against head teachers who will use the delay to release the funds in sending away learners.