Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced the disbursement of Ksh30.5 billion to cover secondary school education capitation, and loans and scholarships for students in universities.
In a statement dated March 27, CS Machogu said Ksh7 Billion will cater for capitation for public schools at the Junior Secondary School level while Ksh16 Billion will cover capitation grants under the Free Day Secondary School education programme.
“The funds are to be received in schools before they close for the April Holidays next week,” Machogu said.
Additionally, the government has released Ksh6.794 billion for loans towards the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) while Ksh3.98 billion will be disbursed for scholarships through the Universities Fund (UF).
“This brings to Ksh32 Billion and Sh12 Billion the total amount released by the Government for loans and scholarships respectively this financial year,” the CS explained.
Govt January & 2023 University Loan Disbursements
In January, the government released Ksh14.4 billion to cover scholarships and loans for government-sponsored first-year students in universities under the New Higher Education Funding Model.
Machogu said the loans also covered loans for semester two of the 2023/2024 Academic Year for continuing students.
Besides, the government disbursed Ksh5.3 billion for student loans and a further Ksh3.9 billion for scholarships for first years In October 2023.
HELB also received Ksh10.3 billion in September 2023 to cater for continuing students’ loans in Universities and TVET colleges.
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Machogu Explains How the Funds will be Distributed
Under the new funding model, the Universities Fund will disburse funds directly to individual universities for the successful candidates to cover their tuition fees.
HELB will also disburse tuition loans directly to respective universities/colleges and upkeep loans to the respective student bank accounts or mobile phone numbers.
“The Ministry of Education wishes to express the Government’s unwavering commitment to promoting access to university education and providing financial support to students, to ensure no one is left behind,” he said.
Universities will receive the scholarship portions for their respective students.
KUPPET Message to Govt Over Delayed Capitation
The disbursements came a week after the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) raised concerns about the delays in releasing funds to schools.
The Union explained that the delays threatened school operations and gave the government a seven-day ultimatum to release the release funds to schools.
Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori said the ministry had only released Ksh3,877 capitation to schools instead of the Sh11,122 expected for the first term.
Also Read: Govt Releases HELB & Scholarship Cash for University Students
He stated that the head teachers faced accusations of poor leadership as a result of the delayed disbursement of funds.
“The union is disturbed that the government has decided to institute cuts in spending in education and this negates the principle of free education which is compulsory,” he said.
Kuppet warned of a possible teachers strike when schools reopen for second term if the government fails to release the funds.
Opposition Leaders Push
Oppositions leaders asked the government to release the funds owed to schools.
Led by the National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, the MPs accused the government of sabotaging free education due to untimely disbursement.
They equally criticized CS Machogu for being inconsistent in giving timelines when the capitation funds will be disbursed to schools.
