School named after Raila not registered, says Matiang'i

A school in Homa Bay County named after Cord leader Raila Odinga is not registered and has not submitted an application for registration to be recognised by the ministry of Education.

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i told the National Assembly's Committee on Education sitting at County Hall that there is no evidence of an application to the County Education Board for Raila Odinga Secondary School.

Dr Matiang’i was responding to questions by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, who wanted to know why the school had not been registered though it has candidates expecting to sit their national examinations that start next month.

“We will register schools that have already submitted applications but new ones will have to wait as we look at the policy again,” said the Cabinet secretary.

He observed that more schools were being set up, stretching the capacity of existing facilities and resources such as teachers, but that some of them have very few students.

Other schools that he said have not applied for registration include Ojunge and Njakahia Secondary schools.

Dr Matiang’i added that the application for Nyagidha Secondary School had been rejected because the documents lacked required information.

“The school was informed and requested to file additional information to the county education board,” he said.

For Rabuor Masa Secondary School, he said the application was considered and recommended for registration by the County Education Board and the process will be concluded in two weeks. The same applies to Riwa Secondary School, he said.

He added that for a school to be registered, it must apply to the County Education Board through sub-county directors, who study the application and forward it to the Cabinet secretary for approval.

Meanwhile, Sh6.8 billion was allocated to the Teachers Service Commission in April in the supplementary budget.

Dr Matiang’i said Sh4.3 billion was used to pay outstanding third-party deductions carried forward from the 2014/15 financial year.

He added that Sh813 million was used to pay teachers recruited on contract during a strike while Sh261 million was used to pay salaries and allowances to teachers based on consumption.

“The balance of Sh1.5 billion meant for payment of pension to the 1997 retired teachers was reduced from the commission’s budget during the second supplementary since the commission is not responsible for payment of pension,” said Dr Matiang’i.