Gvt releases sh16.8 billion for free primary and secondary schools

The National Government has released a total of Sh16.8 Billion towards Primary and Secondary Schools.

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said Sh2.11 Billion is meant for learners in primary schools while the rest Sh14.7 billion will go towards supporting secondary school students.

Speaking at Kapsabet Boys High School after commissioning tuition blocks, Prof Magoha said principals should keep all their learners at their respective schools to ensure no part of class time is lost during the shortened academic calendar which he noted is only 9 weeks.

“Principals should refrain from sending students home because of money. Instead, they should dialogue with parents of learners with fee balances to find a practical way of clearing any arrears,” he said

The Education CS asked principals to use the capitation money from the government as they wait for parents to clear fees adding that the Government will be forced to act against principals who continue sending students home for school fees.

“It is criminal to send a child from a Day school home yet its 100 percent free. If we catch any principal doing that, we will not be diplomatic. Sometimes you are sending a child to abject poverty,” he stressed

On Competence Based Curriculum (CBC), Prof Magoha called on contractors building the schools to ensure Phase one of all classrooms are ready by the first week of March to ensure that when learners start the exams, the focus should be on exams alone.

“As far as CBC is concerned, we are doing well. Am very happy because we are progressing on well according to the stipulated time,” he said.

He saluted parents and students of Kapsabet Boys for the discipline exhibited by the 2000 students adding that it’s not easy to have such self-control.

The Education CS who was accompanied by Nandi County Commissioner, Herman Shambi, and various stakeholders asked head teachers to destroy success cards being sent to students by politicians with their portraits on.

“This term being the shortest, there will be no schools’ visits. We want our learners to concentrate with their studies and prepare well for the national examinations,” he said.