The government has announced the release of Free Primary Education funds to public primary school accounts just a week to the end of the term.
In a circular dated July 25, signed by Belio Kipsang Principal Secretary for Basic Education, the Ministry of Education disbursed Ksh144 per learner to Account 1 and Ksh186 per learner to Account 2. These are monies transferred to respective school accounts.
Use and Utilization of Funds
Circular directs that:
- Account 1: Ksh.144.00 per learner for provision of exercise books, teachers’ guides, reference materials, stationery and assessments.
- Account 2: Ksh.186.00 per learner for support staff emoluments, environment and sanitation, contingency, ICT infrastructure materials, Science and applied materials, electricity, water and conservancy, local transport and travel.
Circular Directions to Education Directors and School Heads
The circular has directed all Regional, County, and Sub-County Education Directors to ensure that monies in Account 1 are used only for the purposes for which they are offered. Likewise, funds offered in Account 2 must be spent for the intended purposes unless otherwise authorized.
It goes further to request county directors to disseminate the information to all public primary school head teachers in their jurisdiction. The directors are further requested to advise the head teachers on the appropriate use of the funds. Principals/head teachers are also directed to acknowledge receipt of funds immediately through the NEMIS platform.
Monitoring and Compliance
Sub-county directors of education are further directed to ensure that the usage of these funds is in line with the ministry’s guidelines.
More importantly, head teachers are expected continue to update their enrollment on NEMIS, given that the subsequent disbursement will be against the information for any future disbursement provided in NEMIS. They are, therefore, encouraged to upload learners in grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 with no birth certificates using their KNEC assessment numbers.
Transparency and Accountability
The contents of the receipt of the capitation grants are also required to be indicated on the notice boards of all concerned schools. The budget is also presented and discussed in the Board of Management meetings before any expenditure.
The exhaustive directive is to ensure that money is put into good use and transparently serves the interest of the learner from corner to corner of the country.