Junior Secondary School learners receive Sh5,000 as capitation

Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang before the National Assembly Education Committee on May 14, 2024. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Each student in the Junior Secondary School (JSS) has been allocated Sh4,998.1 for this term as part of the Free Day Junior School Education (FDJSE) funds disbursed by the Ministry of Education.

This is far below the expected Sh15,000 per learner to be disbursed to school accounts in a given financial year.

This allocation is part of the government’s Sh14 billion release of capitation funds for the second term of this academic year to support free day Junior Secondary School programmes.

Each school hosting JSS has received a total of Sh274,444 as basic allocations from the government.

In a circular dated June 18, 2024, addressed to all County Directors of Education, Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang indicated that the data obtained from the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) on April 20 was used to allocate the funds to schools and institutions.

“The Ministry of Education has released Free Day Junior Secondary Education funds for Junior Secondary Schools for term two at Sh4,998.1 per learner. Further, each school will receive an allocation of Sh274,444 as a basic allocation,” said Dr. Kipsang.

The disbursement for each student includes Sh1,746.38 for tuition, with centralized procurement accounting for Sh1,175.72 through the Tuition account. The Operation account consists of Sh2,076, including Sh1,976 and Sh100 for centralized procurement respectively.

School funds are distributed as follows: personal emolument is allocated Sh199,713, rental box and postage, telephone charges, board of Management meetings, and capacity building are collectively allocated Sh58,416.37.

Other allocations include internet connectivity and electricity at Sh11,667.14, and water and conservancy at Sh4,647.49.

The PS noted that the funds are intended for learners in both Grades 7 and 8, and schools are expected to utilize the resources as per the estimates issued by the ministry.

“This acknowledgement must be accomplished within two weeks of receipt of funds. Schools whose acknowledgement is not received at the headquarters in the stipulated period will be suspended from the programme. It should be noted that recovery will be instituted for any school that is found to have an enrollment less than the one used in this disbursement,” he added.

Additionally, Sh19 billion was sent to secondary schools under the free day secondary education programme, while primary schools will receive Sh2.74 billion for free primary education.

Several school heads expressed frustration over the insufficient funds, revealing they have received only Sh4,156 per learner, short of the Sh5,000 expected.