Matiangi directs schools to issue receipts for free secondary education

The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Dr Fred Matiang’i, has directed Principals of Secondary Schools to provide receipts for the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) to students.

He said receipting students for the capitation funds and display of the amounts schools receive on institution’s noticeboards was required for accountability and transparency purposes.

He made the observations when he toured Magumu and Tumaini Secondary schools in Nyandarua County on Friday.

He was accompanied by the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Youth & Gender Affairs, Sicily Kariuki, who hails from the area.

Under the FDSE, the Ministry of Education sends Ksh 12,780 to each student in public secondary school. The schools are expected to issue block receipts for the total amount received, but issue receipt to each student for the amount the school receives.

The Principals of Magumu and Tumaini Secondary Schools in Nyandarua County were unable to provide documentary evidence to the effect that they issue students with receipts upon receiving the FDSE funds each.

Dr Matiang’i asked Sub-County Directors of Education to ensure that secondary schools issued receipt to students for money received under the FDSE, just like they were issued with receipts for fees parents paid.

“How will parents know how much the government paid for the education of their children?” Dr. Matiang’i poised.

He said the receipting was also important for accountability purposes.

“A list signed by each student indicating their official names as they appear in the school register, class, admission number, and amount received should be forwarded by the school principal, with appended signatures to the Ministry Headquarters through the Sub-County Directors of Education.”

Dr Matiang’i expressed the need for school administration to ensure students slept in a clean and secure environment.

He challenged school administrators to inspect the dormitories students slept in to ensure they were kept clean and that the ablution facilities were equally cleaned and safe for use by students.