The education sector is cash strapped and school principals are sending students home due to unpaid fees and delayed government capitation. The crisis which has been worsened by inadequate and late release of funds has left institutions on the verge of collapse.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KSSHA) Chairman Willy Kuria said head teachers are grappling with debts and student unrest.
“It’s a choice we never wanted to make. Principals have no option but to send students home for funds no matter how little the balance. This will sustain and run institutions,” Kuria said.
Schools on the Brink of Insolvency
Government is supposed to provide Sh22,244 per student per year but schools get less and later than that. This shortfall has pushed many institutions to the edge.
A principal in Makueni County expressed frustration highlighting the dilemma between implementing government policies that prohibit expulsion of students over unpaid fees and managing overwhelming financial constraints.
“What will those students eat while in school? If they stay, the frustration will boil over into unrest,” he said.
In Machakos County, Benson Manoo a school principal described the situation as “running schools on goodwill and prayers”.
“With government funds barely covering basic expenses and parents’ payments in arrears, schools are forced to accumulate debts to meet daily operational costs,” he said.
Joseph Mwangi a principal in Kiambu echoed these sentiments saying sending students home is always the last option.
“If government or other stakeholders would subsidize costs this wouldn’t be a debate,” he said. However he noted the risks adding that some students drop out permanently when they get into bad company while out of school.
Concerns Over Student Welfare and Long Term Impact
National Parents Association Chairman Silas Obuhatsa warned that sending students home puts them in vulnerable situations.
“When they are sent home we don’t always know where they are during the day. Some feel ashamed to come home because they know there’s no money so they stay out until dark,” he said.
Education stakeholders argue that delayed capitation disrupts learning and affects the quality of education. University lecturer Philip Amuyunzu warned that the funding crisis could have long term consequences.
“With over 40 per cent of learners dropping out due to unpaid fees the capitation crisis jeopardizes long term educational outcomes,” he said.Dr. Peter Kamau an education policy analyst said the long term cost of sending students home is more than the financial strain schools are going through.
“We will lose an entire generation to crime, substance abuse and other vices,” he warned.
As the situation gets worse, calls for government to sort out the capitation delays and fund schools consistently are getting louder. Without immediate intervention Kenya’s education sector will collapse and thousands of students will be affected.