Crisis brews as schools reopen amid capitation delays

This funding delay is now cited as one of the main reasons behind the additional levies being charged to parents—a move that has sparked outrage among stakeholders.

The Elimu Bora Working Group is now putting both schools and the government on the spot, accusing them of imposing what it terms "illegal levies" on parents, despite the constitutional guarantee of free primary and junior secondary education.

Despite the energy of a new term, many schools are already struggling. According to the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), last term's capitation funds have not been fully disbursed, leaving schools cash-strapped and forcing administrators into tough decisions.

Speaking to the media, KUPPET Acting Secretary-General Nthurima said the situation has become critical

"So far, the government has not found it prudent to pay capitation to schools," Nthurima said. "It’s unfortunate that the government cannot prioritize education. Schools have no money, and when politicians talk, they boast about free education, yet parents are supposed to pay levies to supplement what the government has failed to provide."

Faced with mounting operational challenges, school heads say they have no choice but to introduce additional charges to parents in order to sustain basic school functions. Nthurima warned that without immediate government intervention, some schools could grind to a halt.

"Principals have no options," he explained. "If there is no food in school, it becomes a recipe for chaos. They have to charge parents because how else do they run the schools? If you close early, you are punished."

Parents, too, are feeling the strain, with many expressing sympathy for the schools’ plight and frustration at the government’s delays. In Nyamira County, Geoffrey Nyasani, a parent, voiced his concerns:

"The government does not give enough money to schools," Nyasani said. "What they provide isn’t even enough for a teacher to buy a ream of paper. Schools are in a dire state, and headteachers are under enormous pressure."

Echoing the same frustrations, Steven Ouko, the Chairman of the Nyamira Parents Association, blamed government inefficiency for the ongoing challenges:

"Both parents and principals are struggling," Ouko said. "The government takes too long to release capitation funds, sometimes delaying until the end of the school term. This is a crisis created by the government itself."

Meanwhile, the Elimu Bora Working Group has condemned the imposition of additional levies, terming them illegal. Nevertheless, school heads argue that under the prevailing circumstances, such charges have become a necessary evil for survival.