A head of the first term reopening on Monday, January 8, 2025, the government has disbursed Sh48.4 billion to public primary and secondary schools across the country. This is part of the government’s continued efforts to address the financial challenges that have long plagued schools and to ensure smooth operations as the new academic year kicks off.
In a statement, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba explained that the disbursement represents 50 percent of the total capitation due to schools for the 2025 academic year. The breakdown of the funds is as follows: Sh4.1 billion has been allocated to public primary schools, Sh15.3 billion to Day Junior Secondary Schools, and Sh28.9 billion to Day Secondary Schools.
This timely release of funds is expected to alleviate the financial burdens on public schools, ensuring they can operate effectively and keep learners enrolled without the fear of sending students home for fees. In addition, Ogamba noted that the government is working closely with the National Treasury to ensure that the exchequer is released on time throughout the year. In Term Two, 30 percent of the capitation will be released, while the remaining 20 percent will be disbursed in the third term.
The government has also made strides in preparing for the Grade 9 transition to Junior Secondary Schools. Ogamba revealed that 16,000 classrooms are 93 percent complete, with temporary structures set to be constructed where needed. Schools are encouraged to merge streams to accommodate the influx of new learners.
The Ministry of Education is also ensuring that resources are available for both teachers and learners. A total of 9.9 million textbooks have been dispatched to schools across the country, with the distribution expected to be completed by January 6, 2025, ensuring that students have the necessary learning materials as they return to school.
In related news, the Ministry confirmed that the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results will be released within the first two weeks of January, adhering to the usual timeline.
