The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) wants the government to increase the funds allocated to primary and secondary schools.
KNUT further wants the national government to prioritize budgetary allocation to the ministry of Education and to release funds for 2024 academic year before schools reopen.
The teachers’ union also raised concerns over capitation allocated to primary, junior schools, senior schools and special needs learners noting that they are not enough.
According to them, the funds are either delayed unnecessarily or allocated in small bits that cannot enable schools carry out their programmes.
KNUT Demands Timely Allocation
While speaking during a press conference, KNUT secretary general Collins Oyuu, said that early allocation of funds by the government will enable heads of institutions to plan well for the year.
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Collins Oyuu also noted that the capitation should be timely while also calling on the ministry to account for money that fails to reach the school heads.
“We also want to mention here that as we stick to funding of this schools, they should be timely, what the ministry gives to these schools as allocation is not the whole of what they should give,” said Oyuu.
“The ministry should come out clearly and tell our principals in the comprehensive schools and senior schools where the rest of this money is,” he added.
Proposed Allocation
The union now wants junior schools’ current capitation of 15, 547 shillings be adjusted to 22,000 shillings per learner.
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“The comprehensive schools had been allocated 15,547 shillings this figure should be adjusted to 22,000 shillings,” said Oyuu.
Additionally, the KNUT boss stated that the Current funds allocated to the secondary school of Ksh 22,224 is a drop compared to previous allocations.
In their proposal to the ministry, the teachers’ union wants special needs learners currently allocated Sh.18000 per learner to be given at least Ksh 35,000.
“The current allocations per student are a drop in the ocean, considering the escalating cost of living and the pricey cost of teaching tools and learning materials,” said Oyuu.
Furthermore, KNUT wants capitation for Free Primary Education reviewed from Ksh 1,420 to Ksh4,000.
