Head teachers warn of financial crisis in schools

Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) Chairman Shem Ndolo. (Photo: Courtesy)

Primary school head teachers have warned that operations in schools are bound to ground if the Government delays further in releasing funds for the term.

Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) officials led by Chairman Shem Ndolo said the Government had pledged to release half of the funds but has not done so.

"The Government promised to send us 50 per cent of the money within the first week but up to now, there is nothing," said Mr Ndolo.

He added that schools require the money urgently as they are admitting new pupils.

"We are admitting pupils yet there is no single penny that has been sent to us to run the schools," he added.

The push for Government funding comes at a time when some headteachers are accused of imposing high illegal levies for pupils seeking to join Standard One.

In December last year, the Ministry of Education launched investigations into claims that public primary schools were demanding between Sh3,000 and Sh17,000 as admission fees for pupils joining Standard One.

Some of the funds were listed to support specific school programmes with some hidden behind items such as parental obligation, interviews, lunch, activity, computer maintenance and PTA projects.

And now, Kepsha wants the Government to act swiftly and release the funds. "As Kepsha, we do not support any head teacher charging illegal levies and stern action should be taken against anyone found doing the same," said Ndolo.