The government has been urged to review free primary and secondary education capitation upwards in order to save the educational institutions from being auctioned due to debts.
According to a Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) national executive council member, Alex Dunga, most public schools are on the verge of facing the auctioneers’ hammer as the money they receive from the national treasury was hardly enough to cater for their needs and clear pending bills.
Speaking at Boro primary school during the launch of Alego / Usonga constituency bursary scheme, Dunga who is also the Siaya county KNUT chairman lamented that the government had never reviewed schools’ capitation since the introduction of FPE and FSE in 2003.
“A pen that used to cost Sh5 in 2003 when FPE was introduced is now Sh20,” said Dunga.
Dunga appealed to members of parliament to help push for the review of capitation for schools as a way of ensuring equity for the Kenyan child.
The KNUT official also accused the ministry of education of hoarding Ksh.14 billion that Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha which was recently released to facilitate free education.
“These institutions are reeling in debt and if the system of financing the education system cannot change, very soon all schools will be auctioned,” he said.
Alego-Usonga MP, Samuel Atandi called on the Siaya County Government to help the bright but needy students with bursaries to enable them to pursue their education dreams.
Additional Content by KNA
