The government has officially made public the vote head apportionment for FDJSE funds for JSS during the third term. In a comprehensive memo signed by the Basic Education Principal Secretary, Dr. Belio Kipsang, and dated 2nd September 2024 addressed to County Directors of Education across the country, the funding structure was outlined.
Summary of Funds per Student and School
Each student in JSS is set to receive Ksh2,403.61 while schools are set to receive Ksh74,793.20 as a basic entitlement, spread across the school’s operational and tuition accounts for the smooth running of the school. According to Dr. Kipsang, the data used in the allocation were from the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) as at 6th August 2024, 2:38 PM.
Operation Account Allocation
The amounts allocated to the operation account cater to various administrative and operational costs, summarized below:
- Personal Emolument: Ksh43,316
- Rental Box, Postage, Telephone Charges, BOM Meetings, and Capacity Building: Ksh17,919
- Internet Connectivity: Ksh7,350
- Electricity, Water, and Conservancy: Ksh2,352
Tuition Account Allocation
The tuition account caters to academic resources. An amount of Ksh3,856.20 was allocated to the tuition account, bringing the total to Ksh74,793.20 per school.
Vote Head Allocation Per Learner
Money will be used transparently as shown by the vote head allocations per learner under the operation and tuition accounts. The breakdown for the vote head is as follows:
Operation Account Vote Heads:
- Local Transport and Travel: Ksh160
- Co-curricular Activities: Ksh140
- Administrative Costs: Ksh130
- Medical and Insurance: Ksh90
Tuition Account Vote Heads:
- Stationery/Writing Materials: Ksh400
- Textbooks and Supplementary Readers (KICD): Ksh366.80
- Materials for Practical Lessons under CBC: Ksh240
- Assessment: Ksh126.81
- Lab Materials: Ksh90
- Capacity Building: Ksh90
Procurement of Desks and Chairs for Grade 9
Dr. Kipsang also ordered that schools with Grade 8 students should use the money first to buy desks and chairs, with funds drawn from the Repairs, Maintenance, and Improvement (RMI) vote head allocation for Grade 9 students.
Accountability and Transparency Arrangements
For openness and accountability in the management and utilization of funds, the CDEs were guided to ensure that school heads within their jurisdiction issued official school receipts to the PS, acknowledging the receipt of the funds for both tuition and operation accounts.
Record Keeping Requirements:
- Schools shall obtain individual students to sign class lists showing their admission numbers, full names (as recorded in the admission register), and the amount awarded.
- These lists shall be attached to the payment voucher and retained in the school.
- A school official receipt for the allocation shall also be issued to each student.
Missing Allocations
For schools that may not have received the funds due to conflicting data or errors, the PS assured they will get the funds once the correct details are provided and verified.
School heads from affected schools are expected to write to Dr. Kipsang’s office, detailing the correct UIC, account details, and student enrollment.
Oversight of Board of Management
It was also highlighted that the Boards of Management (BOM) in schools across the country should ensure prudent and transparent use of funds at the school levels. Schools must follow the regulations and guidelines for financial management as outlined in the Handbook on Financial Management for Public Schools, Teacher Training Colleges, and Technical and Vocational Colleges in Kenya.
Additionally, it has been directed that schools should not charge for any lunch programs or impose any other extra fees or levies from the students. School heads, who act as the accounting officers of their schools, shall take full responsibility for the application and proper utilization of the funds.