Kenya’s secondary schools have received a timely boost after the Ministry of Education released capitation funds of Ksh3,094 per student for the Third Term of the 2025 academic year.
The allocation, disbursed under the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) program, is designed to ease the burden on parents while keeping schools running smoothly during the most demanding stretch of the calendar.
According to ministry officials, the funds will cover a wide range of needs from textbooks, laboratory and library equipment, and co-curricular activities to administrative and operational expenses. While stressing that the allocation is only a subsidy, officials noted it is meant to complement parental contributions and other revenue streams.
The release could not have come at a better time. Third Term is synonymous with high pressure as schools gear up for the national exams.
Extra learning materials, intensive revision programs, and infrastructural maintenance all push institutions to their financial limits. School heads have welcomed the disbursement, calling it a critical lifeline to avoid disruptions.
Just weeks ago, the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) had sounded the alarm, warning that delayed funding risked derailing exam preparations.
Their plea now appears to have been answered, offering relief to both educators and learners.
Education Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting basic education, pledging that no student would be turned away for lack of fees.
He described the release as part of efforts to safeguard equal access to education despite economic constraints.
Still, concerns linger. Stakeholders argue that the Ksh3,094 allocation is no longer enough, with inflation and rising school costs outpacing the current formula.
They are pushing for an urgent review to reflect ground realities.
For now, principals and Boards of Management have been instructed to ensure strict accountability.
With the cash in school accounts, the hope is clear: a smooth Third Term and uninterrupted national exams for millions of learners.
