Aki imagine trying to feed and educate a high school teenager in 2024 using a budget set back in 2015! President William Ruto has finally admitted what every stressed principal and broke parent has been crying about: government capitation in public schools is painfully outdated. Speaking during World Teachers’ Day at Kasarani, the Head of State ordered an immediate review of the funds sent to primary, junior, and secondary schools bana.

2015 Rates in 2024? Math Hazimake Sense!

Si uone the reality on the ground: the cost of unga, electricity, laboratory chemicals, and basic stationery has gone through the roof over the last decade, yet schools have been surviving on crumbs. Ruto pointed out that the current Ksh 22,000 allocated per secondary school student and Ksh 14,000 for Junior Secondary School (JSS) learners were locked in nine years ago. Sasa since 2015, how many times has the price of bread changed?

“The last time school capitation was reviewed was in 2015... I believe we need to review that Ksh 22,000 upwards, Ksh 14,000 upwards, and the Ksh 2,300 upwards to make sure that there are adequate resources to teach our children,” Ruto declared. Kumbe even the Ksh 2,300 meant for primary school kids was gathering dust on paper while headteachers struggled to buy chalk and pay security guards.

The President directed the Ministry of Education alongside the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to roll up their sleeves and kickstart the recalculation immediately after sorting out the current university and TVET funding model headache.

Relief for Parents or Another Waiting Game?

While the promise of more billions sounds like sweet music, the timing will be everything. Just recently, the government released Ksh 18.5 billion for third term—with Free Day Secondary Education grabbing Ksh 10.96 billion, JSS pocketing Ksh 6.14 billion, and primary schools getting Ksh 1.4 billion. Education CS Julius Ogamba was quick to warn school heads against slapping parents with illegal, unauthorized fees.

Lakini let’s be honest: when capitation delays or comes in half-baked, who usually pays the price? Parents! School heads have secretly been sneaking in extra charges under funny names like "development fee" or "remedial motivation" just to keep kitchens running and electricity meters loaded. If this proposed upward review actually delivers real cash on time, it could finally take the heavy financial monkey off parents' backs.

The Jukwaa Take: Promising to review capitation rates upwards is great politics, but unless that actual cash hits school bank accounts without delays, principals will still corner hustling parents for "lunch and exam fees."

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya • Jukwaa Pan-Africa Desk