– SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
BY DAN NYAKUNDI
Education Minister Prof. Sam Ongeri
Education minister, Prof. Sam Ongeri has assured Kenyans that the Free Primary and Secondary school Education funds which had delayed will be released to schools this week.
The minister said the delay had been occasioned by the new rules in the new constitution requiring that parliament approves the Appropriation Bill, the president assents to it before the funds are released from Treasury unlike before.
Ongeri told politicians and other stakeholders to stop politicizing the issue for their selfish interest, saying the ministry was being run professionally and accountably.
He reminded critics that under the new law, funds are banked in the consolidated account where the basic conditions must be met before the funds are released to schools.
Speaking at Riondong’a mixed SDA secondary school in Nyaribari Chache constituency on Friday during a funds drive for a school bus, Ongeri told the school management to strictly use the school bus for educational purposes to help improve education standards at the institution but not for joyrides.
The minister cautioned students against indiscipline, saying he was unhappy that some students resort to torching their dorms, buses and striking to resolve conflicts, advising them not copy what their teachers were doing in terms of striking.
He asked the teachers to embark in their work given that the government had heeded their call to employ more teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
“ The time wasted during the one week strike should be compensated outside the schools’ programme to ensure that students cover the syllabus fully in readiness for their end tern and national examinations,” stated Ongeri.
He decried the poor academic standards in Gusii schools and put on notice heads of schools whose institutions were not posting good results, saying the ministry will not take it lightly.
The minister, accompanied by Nyanza Provincial Director of Education ( PDE), Geoffrey Cherongis and MPs, Dr. James Gesami, West Mugirango, Wilfred Ombui, North Mugirango and area lawmaker, Dr. Robert Monda
told the managers of the recently elevated national schools to ensure that the funds disbursed for infrastructure to their schools is properly utilized and accounted for.
Gesami and Ombui who are assistant ministers for Public Health and Sanitation and Culture and National Heritage respectively challenged elites from Gusii community in the diaspora to return and play a key role in addressing education standards in schools which moulded them instead of leaving the responsibility only to political leaders.
In politics, Gesami urged aspirants interested in various seats to declare their interests to clear the air instead of leaving the electorate confused and guessing.
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