One Board, One Fund: Ministry of Education to Merge Primary and JSS Capitation Next Year
NAIROBI, Kenya — In a move aimed at streamlining school operations and eliminating administrative overlap, the Ministry of Education has announced plans to consolidate primary and junior school capitation funds into a single account under one Board of Management (BOM) beginning next financial year.
Making the announcement, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Basic Education, Prof. Julius Bitok, emphasized that the structural shift is part of the government’s broader strategy to anchor the comprehensive school model.
The “Comprehensive School” Transition
The directive solidifies the position held by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, who has maintained that primary and junior schools are no longer distinct entities but rather a single comprehensive institution operating under unified leadership.
Currently, public primary school headteachers are steering these integrated institutions, serving as acting principals on one-year renewable contracts.
With the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) rolling deep into its intermediate phases, these heads have now successfully managed the JSS transitions for three years.
“I outline the Government’s plan to consolidate capitation for primary and junior schools beginning next financial year and advance the establishment of comprehensive schools integrating primary, junior, and senior schools under one institution to improve efficiency and optimize resources,” stated PS Bitok.
Brewing Tension: JSS Teachers Push for Autonomy
While the Ministry eyes fiscal efficiency, the consolidation plan is expected to draw sharp resistance from Junior School (JS) teachers.
For months, JS educators have fiercely lobbied for the institutional and administrative autonomy of junior schools.
The teachers are backing a separate proposal by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) that advocates for independent management structures completely divorced from primary schools.
However, the Ministry is sticking strictly to the blueprint drawn by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER), which was spearheaded by the late Prof. Raphael Munavu.
The Munavu task force recommended a single comprehensive institution managed by one Principal, supported by two Deputy Principals overseeing the primary and junior school sections respectively.
SNE Expansion and Strict Certificate Directives
Beyond the capitation merger, PS Bitok highlighted several key policy directives aimed at equity and accountability:
Special Needs Education (SNE) Expansion: The Ministry plans to establish eight regional SNE assessment centres across the country to decentralize services and complement the work of the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE).
Release of Certificates: The PS issued a stern warning to school heads still withholding academic certificates over unpaid fees, reaffirming the government’s absolute commitment to enforcing the directive that commands the unconditional release of certificates to former students.
The Sh71.77 Billion Deficit vs. Ruto’s Mega Budget
The administrative realignment comes amid severe funding headwinds. Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education, PS Bitok made an urgent appeal to bridge a massive Ksh 71.77 billion budget deficit.
According to the State Department, the shortfall directly threatens critical pillars of basic education:
| Affected Program / Area | Consequence of Funding Deficit |
| 2025 KNEC Professionals | Delayed payments for contracted exam invigilators and supervisors. |
| School Capitation | Reduced operational funds distributed per learner. |
| Learning Materials | Delays in the procurement and distribution of standard textbooks. |
| Infrastructure | Slowdowns in building critical Grade 9 classrooms ahead of next year. |
| Welfare Programs | Disruptions to school feeding programmes in arid and vulnerable areas. |
Despite these severe internal deficits, the wider education docket remains heavily funded overall.
For his final year in office, President William Ruto has allocated a historic Sh668.3 billion to the total education budget.
As part of this fiscal rollout, the government plans to formally increase school capitation for public schools to Sh2,400 per pupil in the upcoming financial year, hoping that the consolidation of funds will maximize the impact of every shilling sent to Kenyan classrooms.
