Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof. George Magoha has said that the Government has already released capitation funds to all public primary and secondary schools, as of yesterday and warned head teachers against misuse.
Maghoha said the funds totaling Sh18.6 billion should hit all schools accounts by Thursday in a move that was expected to ensure smooth learning in all public schools countrywide.
Speaking during a tour of Githwariga Primary School in Nyeri County today morning, Magoha said any arising delays could only be attributed to normal banking processes.
He called on head teachers to use the funds for the purpose they were meant for, noting that it was not so much about the quantity but how well the money was spent.
“This money belongs to the children and God will punish you severely if you even smell the smell of the money,” the CS cautioned.
He also warned school heads against sending learners home over unpaid development fees, saying the move was against the government policy of ensuring all learners remain in school and acquire education.
“If anybody has any details of any teacher who is bold enough to send a child home because of development money, give us that information and we will act swiftly,” cautioned the CS.
On resumption of schooling, the CS said he was satisfied with the rate of return contrary to the narrative that close to half of the learners had not yet gone back.
“The narrative that children were not reporting back to school and that the rate of reporting was at 50 percent is not correct,” Magoha said.
He said the majority of schools had reported a return rate of over 90 percent and exuded confidence of attaining 100 percent in the days to come.
The CS also said he was satisfied with the measures put in place by many of the schools in mitigating the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, including masking of the learners, social distancing, as well as providing adequate water points for washing hands.
Prof Magoha reported that the Government would chip in to assist in masking learners in slum areas and those in very populous schools countrywide.
He nonetheless asked school heads to be innovative and utilize their compounds, especially tree shades to conduct lessons as a way of reducing congestion in classes in order to contain the spread of the contagion.
“I challenge teachers in schools without sufficient classrooms to explore other options including conducting lessons under trees,” the CS said.
By Samuel Waititu
