Schools across the country reopened on Monday for the third and final term of the academic year, ushering in a short but intense period that will culminate in national examinations.
The nine-week term, the shortest in the school calendar, runs until October 24. But as learners settle back into class, many public schools are already strained as capitation is yet to be disbursed.
Within the term, Form Fours are to sit the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams from November 3, and about 1.2 million Grade Nine learners will take the first-ever Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment, which will determine placement in senior school.
Grade Six pupils will also sit the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment to transition into junior secondary, while Grade Three learners will take the Kenya Learners Education Assessment.
Last term, many public schools were forced to close early after running out of funds to keep operations going.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba assured schools that capitation will be released before the end of this week.
Kenya Primary School Heads Association Chairperson Fuad Ali said that schools had no choice but to resume learning despite the delay in release of funds.
“Schools are open and none is postponing reopening because of capitation. Yes, the money has not come in yet, but learning has to go on,” said Mr Ali.
On the examinations, Mr Ali said that learners had selected their preferred pathways last term and were now waiting for the final national examinations.
He urged parents to ensure their children report to school on time, stressing that the third term is short and busy.
“Schools are ready for third term. There is no cause for alarm. Some parents think the first week is not important, but learning begins immediately. Learners have rested enough, it’s now time for schooling,” he said.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association National Chairperson Willy Kuria said schools continue to grapple with massive funding gaps.
“In the first term we had a deficit of about Sh2,300 per learner, and in the second term Sh3,400. Combined, the government owes us about Sh18 billion for the first and second terms. For third term, we are supposed to receive 20 percent of the Sh22,000 capitation per learner. We hope the funds are wired to schools when reopening,” he said.
He added that many public schools closed prematurely last term after going broke, with day schools being the hardest hit.
“Many schools could not sustain operations without funds. We had to send learners home weeks earlier because we could not feed them or pay suppliers. Day schools rely entirely on capitation, with no boarding fees to cushion them, and are gasping for survival,” Mr Kuria said.
National Parents Association Chairperson Silas Obuhatsa disputed claims that schools were imposing illegal levies, saying most had been agreed upon in annual general meetings.
“Records show parents signed and approved these contributions. What is important is that school heads should not send learners home because of delays in fee payment, since many parents are only waiting for salaries, which mostly come on the fourth of the month,” he said.
Teachers’ unions have also weighed in, warning that delayed funds threaten smooth learning in a term where stability is crucial.
Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers Chairperson James Torome said capitation should ideally be released a week before reopening. “The Education CS should pull up his socks to avert a crisis,” he said.
“Given the short but intense term, schools need peace and concentration. The ministry must release the capitation without further delay,” he said.
The Kenya Teachers in Hardship Areas Welfare Association urged the government to address staffing shortages and low funding in marginalised regions.
“We are calling on the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission to urgently employ more teachers and increase capitation for schools in hardship areas. Many schools here are operating without adequate staff and resources, making it difficult to deliver quality education,” said Ndung’u Wangenye, the association’s national secretary.
Reporting by Mercy Simiyu, Lynet Igadwah and Winnie Atieno.
