𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

The Ministry of Education has recently clarified the reasons behind the delay in releasing capitation funds to schools, attributing it to financial constraints within the government. Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Migos Ogamba reassured school heads that the ministry would begin disbursing the funds starting next week. School leaders had expressed concern over how these delays would impact their schools’ operations, especially with the new academic year underway.Ogamba also provided an update on the financial support for first- and second-year students affected by a recent court ruling. He confirmed that resources had already been allocated to these students through alternative strategies, ensuring that they had received the necessary funds to continue their studies.

Despite the initial uncertainty, the Ministry of Education is working to mitigate the impact of the ruling on students’ academic progress.While the funding for students was addressed, school principals voiced concerns over the broader challenges created by the delay in capitation funds. These delays have led to difficulties in managing daily operations at schools, with principals calling for swift action to avoid further disruptions. The issue remains pressing, as schools depend heavily on timely financial support to run effectively.In a separate development, Ogamba disclosed that the government had filed an appeal against a court ruling that altered the university funding model.

The Ministry of Education had argued that the ruling was flawed and could negatively impact the financial structure supporting university students. However, Ogamba reassured the public that despite the legal challenge, university students had continued to receive their funding uninterrupted.According to Ogamba, KSh 3.2 billion had already been disbursed to university students to ensure they had the necessary financial resources for their education. This funding was part of the government’s ongoing commitment to support students’ academic journeys. A new funding report is expected to be released next week, offering further insights into the disbursement process and any adjustments made following the court ruling.

Teacher promotions were also a hot topic during Ogamba’s address. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has faced criticism from both the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) for promoting only 25,288 teachers. The unions argued that the number was far too low given the high demand for promotions to address career stagnation within the teaching profession.Ogamba responded by acknowledging the concerns raised by the unions but explained that the promotion process is contingent upon available vacancies and the performance of individual teachers. He emphasized that TSC, being an independent body, is responsible for determining promotions. Ogamba further clarified that the commission had completed interviews and was in the process of reviewing results to determine which teachers would be promoted.

The Ministry of Education now faces a multi-faceted challenge: balancing the financial constraints that led to delays in capitation funds, addressing the concerns of teachers’ unions over career advancement, and dealing with the legal complexities surrounding university funding. With a clear commitment to resolving these issues, Ogamba and the Ministry are working diligently to ensure that all educational stakeholders – from primary schools to universities – continue to receive the necessary support.