Looks like we’ve got a bit of a financial rollercoaster ride happening in our schools. You see, after a recent distribution of funding to educational institutions, things have gotten a tad bit confusing. And by a tad bit, I mean a whole lot!
Now, here’s the scoop. Several school administrators are raising their hands and shouting, “Hey, we didn’t receive enough funding!” While others are going even further and claiming they didn’t receive a single penny. Ouch!
The Ministry of Education, through its trusty cabinet secretary Ezekiel Machogu, made an announcement just a week ago that funds were being released to schools. But here’s the twist: Many educational institutions are still struggling to keep their finances afloat. It’s like trying to swim with one arm tied behind your back. Not an easy task, my friends.
And you know what? The teachers are not just sitting quietly in their classrooms. They are voicing their concerns, and rightfully so! Indimuli Kahi, the chairperson of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association, agrees that the objections made by the teachers are completely valid. They were expecting a more substantial amount of money, especially since the ministry of education had been given a whopping budget. But instead, what they got was far less than what they had anticipated for each and every student. Talk about a financial disappointment!
Apparently, the principal secretary of basic education, Belio Kipsang, signed off on a document a week ago stating that the money had been released for distribution to educational institutions. He claims that this was for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2022–2023 and the first semester of the 2023 academic year. But wait, where did all that money go? It seems like a game of hide-and-seek, doesn’t it?
Now, the education cabinet secretary, Ezekiel Machogu, was contacted about this matter, and he assured everyone that he would handle it with the national treasury. Phew, at least someone’s taking action! Machogu also mentioned that starting from the next fiscal year, the ministry of education will change their game plan and pay educational institutions using the 50.30.20 disbursement mechanism. Let’s hope this new strategy brings some much-needed stability to our schools.
The education ministry claims to have given schools an average of 24 billion Kenyan shillings. Impressive, right? But here’s the twist: They’re advising teachers to hold off on sending students home just because they couldn’t pay their fees on time. It’s like saying, “Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. No need to hit the panic button just yet.”
But here’s the sad truth. This delayed release and disbursement of insufficient funds are not just causing financial woes. They’re also posing a threat to the regular academic growth of our beloved institutions. It’s like trying to run a race with your shoelaces tied together. Not the most ideal situation, right?