Kuppet threatens closure of schools over lack of funds
What you need to know:
- Chairman Omboko Milemba Sunday accused the government of lacking seriousness in releasing the funds saying; “School heads will have no option but to close down if the funds will not have come through.”
- However, the head of communication at the ministry of Education, Mr Kennedy Buhere, said the Treasury had assured schools they will have the money by the end of next week.
- Schools received 15 per cent of the funds last term and they are now waiting for 20 per cent for third term.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers has threatened to ask school heads to close down their institutions if the government does not release free education funds by Tuesday.
Chairman Omboko Milemba Sunday accused the government of lacking seriousness in releasing the funds saying; “School heads will have no option but to close down if the funds will not have come through.”
“We cannot keep begging the government to release funds every term, yet they know the school calendar very well,” lamented Mr Milemba.
He said the union was worried examinations might not be done as scheduled due to lack of funds. “In this case, we will allow students who rely on government grants to be disadvantaged when the exams begin,” Mr Milemba told the Nation.
However, the head of communication at the ministry of Education, Mr Kennedy Buhere, said the Treasury had assured schools they will have the money by the end of next week.
“There should be no panic as schools will have the cash any time now,” said Mr Buhere.
Three weeks after schools re-opened for third term, the government is yet to release the cash and this has been blamed on bureaucracy.
WAITING FOR 20 PER CENT
Schools received 15 per cent of the funds last term and they are now waiting for 20 per cent for third term.
School heads have also warned that continued delay in releasing the cash is affecting many other activities and in particular, preparations for national examination slated for October.
Kenya Secondary School Heads Association chairman John Awiti said schools were surviving on the balance of the money the government released last term.
“We hope the government will release the cash to allow us prepare candidates for the national examinations,” said Mr Awiti.
“We are concerned that this will affect examinations. We have not bought specimens and chemicals for practical examinations. The ministry must get serious,” said Mr Awiti.
Kenya Primary School Head Teachers Association chairman Joseph Karuga said it was sad that the government had to be reminded to release funds every time.
“We expected the funds on time but here we are again, making appeals two weeks after re-opening,” Mr Karuga lamented. Each pupil is allocated Sh1,400 a term.
KCPE examinations will start on November 4, with Mathematics and English Language and will end on November 6, when the candidates will write Social Studies and Religious Education papers. Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang will launch the 2014 National Examinations on Thursday.
