The Ministry of Education has delayed the release of capitation funds to schools as part of a nationwide crackdown on “ghost” institutions that have allegedly been siphoning government money.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba confirmed that while the National Treasury has already released the allocations, the ministry is currently verifying data to ensure only legitimate schools receive the funds.
Speaking to the Saturday Nation on Friday, CS Ogamba said the government is determined to eliminate fraudulent entries in the education system that continue to drain public resources. “We have the money ready, but before we wire it to schools, we must be sure that the institutions are genuine and operational,” he noted.
The ministry’s data-cleaning exercise comes in response to growing concerns over irregularities in school enrollment records and the existence of non-existent learning institutions that have been benefiting from state capitation. The funds are critical to schools, as they are used to finance daily operations, pay for utilities, and support learning activities.
While acknowledging that the verification process has caused temporary delays, CS Ogamba assured parents and school administrators that the government’s goal is to safeguard public funds and channel them where they are most needed. “This exercise will ensure fairness and accountability in the management of education resources,” he emphasized.
The move is expected to have far-reaching implications, particularly in strengthening transparency and restoring confidence in the education sector. However, some stakeholders have raised concerns that prolonged delays in disbursement could disrupt learning activities, especially in public schools that heavily rely on capitation.
The crackdown is part of the government’s broader reforms aimed at improving efficiency in the education sector and sealing loopholes that have enabled mismanagement of funds.
