Schools break early for mid-term as cash crunch bites

Kuppet Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima says the government failed to honor the pledge to release capitation funds. [File, Standard]. Schools have begun sending learners home for the mid-term break a week early than the scheduled date. According to the Ministry of Education 2025 school calendar, the schools were set to proceed for a five day mid term break between February 26 and March 2, 2025. A spot check by The Standard on Tuesday revealed that the midterm break has commenced in some schools. And that's not all as some parents report that schools have issued an ultimatum to clear the pending first term fees when the students return from mid-term lest they won't be allowed back. Head teachers interviewed by The Standard said that the army midterm break has been necessitated by a biting cash crunch after the government failed to release the expected capitation in full and delays by parents to pay fees. Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) chairman Willie Kuria painted a grim picture of the financial strain schools are facing. "We have been promised that money would be sent, and we have been waiting. We needed the money to alleviate pressure from head teachers," Kuria said, a sentiment shared by a principal in Kitui. "The actual amount received per learner is far below the stipulated capitation grant. As of now, schools receive Sh4,181 per student," he said. Head teachers now warn that unless urgent action is taken, learning institutions could shut down, disrupting education for thousands of students. "Unless this situation is urgently addressed, schools face imminent closure, disrupting education for thousands of students," said Kuria. A spot check in several schools, students are sitting for mid-term assessments ahead of the break expected before Friday. "We have given learners the papers so that before the week closes we will be done. This will ease the burden on our shoulders," said one principal from Kiambu County. Several parents have confirmed receiving messages from schools instructing them to pick up their children. "I have just received a message to pick my student from school before the weekend," said a parent from Nairobi. But while presiding over the centenary celebration of Kereri Girls on Sunday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba assured that the government would release capitation funds soon."We have released 25 per cent... in the next 10 days we should have released the resources," Ogamba said while attending a function at Kereri Girls."First term is normally tricky because of many commitments the government has, that is why we were only able to release Sh33 billion and another Sh14 billion is going to be released this week," he added. The government had promised to disburse Sh48 billion to learners in Primary, Junior and Secondary schools for free education as half capitation for term one. "We are aware of the strain schools are going through but we are trying to ensure resources arrive in schools for them to be able to continue," the CS said.. Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima accused the government of failing to honor its pledge to release capitation funds. "The promises by the ministry are all lies, and it is unfortunate that school managers have been punished to run schools without money," Nthurima said. Nthurima further warned that schools may remain closed indefinitely unless funds are disbursed. "We shall not allow teachers to report to schools to manage stress levels again. MPs must appropriate sufficient funds to run public schools and also hire new teachers," he said. Under the Free Primary Education and Free Day Secondary Education policies, the government is expected to allocate KSh1,420 and KSh22,244 per learner annually. These funds are to be disbursed in a 50:30:20 ratio each term. However, despite the National Treasury releasing Sh33 billion for Term One, the funds have fallen short of what schools require. The disbursement included Sh4.74 billion for Free Primary Education, Sh7.6 billion for Junior Secondary Schools, and Sh16.2 billion for Free Day Secondary Schools.Kuria said the financial crisis has left principals unable to feed students. "There is only one option: to close schools. And this is because school heads cannot generate food to give to learners. This is a big crisis that we must bite the bullet and make the right decisions," he stated. A spot check by The Standard revealed that some schools are planning to close before mid-term, scheduled for February 26, 2025 potentially causing students to lose valuable learning time. Another principal in Nairobi said the school, initially set to close on February 26, 2025, has moved the date to a week early due to financial constraints. "There was a board meeting last week that resolved the school be closed this week as part of cost-cutting measures after the government delayed disbursement of funds," he told The Standard on condition of anonymity. The delay in capitation funds has forced schools to cut back on essential expenses, including utility bills, staff salaries, and learning materials. Some schools are struggling even further due to non-payment of fees by parents, compounding the crisis. Nthurima has warned that schools may not reopen for the second term unless the government releases the KSh54 billion owed in capitation. "As things are going, we might be forced to ask our teachers to stay away from schools. We shall not open schools next term," he asserted. Union officials have also strongly opposed recent budget cuts in the Ministry of Education, particularly the reduction of secondary school capitation from Sh22,224 to Sh17,000 per learner. Kuppet Nairobi Regional County Executive Secretary Moses Mbora, said head teachers are struggling to fund daily operations because only 25 per cent of the expected 50 per cent capitation has been disbursed for Term One. "Unfortunately, this term the Ministry of Education has only disbursed half of the money for capitation. This has caused a lot of stress to principals since they cannot afford to buy essentials to keep learners in their institutions," Mbora said.

Schools break early for mid-term as cash crunch bites

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