Financial strain intensifies due to delayed distribution of school funding, attributed to the ongoing investigation of non-existent schools.
The Education Ministry in Kenya has embarked on a comprehensive verification exercise to address concerns about ghost schools and inflated enrolment numbers, a move that has led to a delay in the disbursement of capitation funds to schools.
The verification process, which involves validating student numbers submitted by head teachers and cross-checking them with records from sub-county directors of education, is crucial in ensuring the integrity of the capitation fund distribution process. Schools are required to submit the Unique Personal Identifier (UPI), school's registration number, and certified bank account details through sub-country Education offices.
The PS emphasized that this exercise is essential in weeding out ghost schools and exaggerated enrolment, a concern that has been raised in audits and parliamentary inquiries. The Auditor General's special audit on capitation and MPs inquiries had cast doubts on past disbursements.
Despite the delay, the Education ministry has begun releasing capitation funds to schools that have submitted enrolment data for verification. Masii Boys High School, a case study in Machakos County, was the first school to submit its data and has already received full capitation. As of now, 3,000 schools out of 32,000 have received capitation funds after their data was certified as genuine.
The ministry aims to have all schools receive their capitation funds by the end of next week. The PS has assured schools that have submitted the correct data that they will receive funds by Friday. The deadline for submitting data has been extended to Friday, September 12.
However, the situation in schools is reported to be dire due to the severe cash crunch. The PS warned principals and county supervisors who are yet to submit data in the correct format that they risk severe punishment for missed deadlines.
Interestingly, secondary schools have a higher compliance rate in submitting data compared to primary schools. Once the numbers are ascertained, the first schools to be verified will immediately get their funds.
The verification exercise is aimed at establishing the number of schools and learners before the release of capitation funding. The Education ministry hopes that this exercise will help address the cash crunch in schools and ensure that the capitation funds reach their intended beneficiaries.
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