Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi has appealed to the government to increase capitation for secondary schools to help improve infrastructure.
He noted that many schools especially in rural areas have inadequate facilities as a result of poor funding which impedes on delivery of quality and universal education for all learners.
Senator Mundigi said poor infrastructure such as classrooms, dormitories, laboratories, administrative and sports facilities deprive learners of a good learning environment leading to decreased concentration and low academic performance.
Speaking while donating furniture to teachers of ACK St. Joseph Gikiiro Secondary School in Mbeere South Constituency, Mundigi said most rural schools have smaller student populations which means they get less government funding.
He said pegging capitation on population means the situation will remain the same and the trend of poor enrollment and high dropout rates will continue as they are not able to attract many new learners.
He said learners should be able to get quality education regardless of their social, cultural or economic background for the country to attain good teaching and learning outcomes.
“It is time that capitation funding is increased for rural schools to help improve infrastructure to make them attractive to new learners,” he said.
Mundigi also appealed to stakeholders and more so old students to partner with the government in rebuilding their former schools in a bid to uplift the standards of learning and teaching.
He regretted the situation at Gikiiro Secondary School where teachers are forced to use same chairs and lockers as their students for lack of proper furniture
School Principal Josphat Njeru said the situation has been aggravated by inability of parents to raise funds for development owing to their economic hardships.
“We have a problem with payment of fees by parents and so they can hardly afford to make proper classes or improve them,” he stated.
By Samuel Waititu
