Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba, has cautioned schools against imposing unauthorised levies on parents, emphasising the need for free basic education.
Ogamba, who addressed the press on Tuesday, May 20, said the Ministry would take decisive action against any school head found charging illegal levies on parents.
He issued the warning while announcing the disbursment of Ksh22 billion second-term capitation for learners in all public basic education institutions.
Ogamba went ahead to break down how the money would be disbursed. According to him, Ksh1.3 billion would be channelled to free primary education, while free day junior secondary education would receive Ksh18.9 billion.
Similarly, the Education CS said Ksh118 million would cater for the disabled learners in the free day junior secondary schools, while Ksh11 billion will go to the free day secondary education.
Ogamba urged school heads to ensure the prudent use of the money for the benefit of the learners, further warning that stern action would be taken against those found misusing the funds.
"School heads and principals are directed to ensure prudent use of these public resources entrusted to their care for the benefit of learners, and to desist from imposing any unauthorised levies," he said.
"As a Ministry, we will deal firmly with any verified cases of misappropriation of resources and the imposition of unauthorised levies," Ogamba said.
According to the CS, the release of capitation funds is expected to facilitate the seamless running of school activities in the new term, with Ogamba adding that the government would continue to adhere to its constitutional demand of providing free basic education.
The disbursement of the funds comes a fortnight after school heads threatened to send students home after the government delayed to release of the cash.
On May 3, the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association accused the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury of blatantly delaying the release of the funds, thereby jeopardising learning, among other school programs.
The school heads claimed that the delayed funds left several institutions grappling with mounting debts and forced them to make difficult decisions due to limited resources.
Reprieve for Gloria Orwoba After Court Decision News Just In
