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Reprieve as government lessen budget for parents come 2019

It is a big relieve for parents in secondary schools as the Ministry of Education has promised to supply set books for Literature and Fasihi; effective next year (2019). Currently, it is the parents who buy the set books for their kids in forms three and four.

In a circular dated 25th October 2018, the PS assured principals that the ministry will supply those books in 2019.

“The Ministry of Education will supply English Literature and Fasihi set books to Form three and four students in all public schools in 2019,” Says Dr. Belio Kipsang.

New vote component

In another positive move Dr. Kipsang indicated that the ministry has introduced a new vote component for maintenance and improvement of existing infrastructure

“A new vote component for maintenance and improvement has been introduced to help schools meet maintenance and development needs. this will be used for improvement of existing infrastructure or putting up new facilities to ease pressure on existing ones,” the PS says.

The PS further emphasized that the new vote will be used only in the immovable and other form of infrastructure in the school that require upgrading. Approval must be sought from the County Director of Education on utilization of the funds under this vote.

Consequently, the Ministry has slashed allocations to other vote heads and even amalgamating some in order to raise the Kshs. 6,000 meant for the new vote head. Local travel and transport, Administration costs, Electricity and Personal Emolument have been put together and shall now be called Other vote heads with an allocation of Kshs. 7,900 per year for each student in secondary school. Activity fees (meant for Co- Curricular activities at school level) has received an increased capitation of Kshs. 244; up from Kshs. 1256 to Kshs. 1500 for each student per year.

Tuition, Medical and SMASSE vote heads shall receive Kshs. 4,644, Kshs. 2,000 and Kshs. 200 respectively to bring the total capitation per a secondary school student to Kshs. 22,244 per year.

Role of a parent

Even as the government lessen budget of parents they shall continue to meet such obligations as: buying school uniforms for their kids, paying for boarding related costs, meeting lunch costs for the day scholars and ensuring that they clear their fees balances for continuing students prior to the new academic year (2019).

The ministry asks schools not to enter into financial contracts like: hire Purchases, Bank loans and or mortgages without express written approval of the education Ministry’s cabinet secretary.

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