January will see the largest capitation to impact junior secondary school (JSS) coffers since the school’s founding two years ago.
This is because Grade 8 students will be moving to Grade 9 in January, so JSS will now have three classrooms (Grades 7, 8, and 9).
The statute states that term one will receive half of the total distribution for the year, followed by term two at thirty percent and term three at twenty percent.
The Ministry wires money to JSS’s three accounts. These are the accounts for operations, tuition, and infrastructure.
Prior to the start of the 2025 school year, the government has already set out Sh. 109.9 billion to improve basic education.
This allocation includes sh. 65.2 billion for Free Day Secondary Education, sh. 35.3 billion for Junior Secondary Education, and sh. 9.36 billion for Free Primary Education programs.
At a meeting in Nakuru Town West Sub-County, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the timely disbursement of these funds is critical to ensuring a smooth reopening for schools.
He also noted that the government has begun reviewing the safety standards of boarding schools.
As part of this process, 348 schools that do not meet safety requirements will be prohibited from running boarding sections starting January 2025.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to achieving the Education 2030 agenda, which prioritizes employing qualified teachers and providing better resources for schools.
Efforts are underway to improve teachers’ work environments, offer necessary tools, and support career growth to strengthen the education system.
Schools have faced financial pressures in the past due to delayed capitation funds, forcing some to rely on loans to sustain operations.
Suppliers have frequently withheld goods, citing payment delays and inconsistencies. These challenges have negatively impacted many institutions.
The education sector continues to face additional issues, including an ongoing lecturers’ strike affecting public universities.
Meanwhile, some institutions, such as Moi University, are struggling with internal management conflicts and staff unrest.