The salaries of thousands of teachers are at risk of being delayed as the education sector grapples with a Ksh27 billion funding shortfall. The financial crisis, which affects primary, junior secondary, and secondary schools, threatens to disrupt learning and further strain already overburdened institutions.
Appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee on Thursday, February 20, Principal Secretary for Basic Education Dr Belio Kipsang painted a grim picture of the education budget, warning that a glaring financial gap could cripple essential services. For instance, the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) programme is short by Ksh21.85 billion, leaving nearly a million students without adequate funding.
The government had allocated Ksh54.886 billion for FDSE, yet the programme requires Ksh76.654 billion. Dr Kipsang told the committee that the capitation funds for 3,244,325 students stand at Ksh22,244 per learner, while 9,243 students with special needs are allocated Ksh50,772 each.
However, with the existing deficit, 982,197 students will miss out on these crucial funds, raising concerns over the ability of schools to meet operational costs, including teacher salaries and infrastructure maintenance.
By Kenyans