BOM Money Released

The government has released Sh15.4 billion to enable public schools prepare for reopening in January.

Of these, Sh13.3 will go towards arrangements for social distance, hand washing and purchase of thermo-guns. Another Sh2.2 billion will pay salaries of teachers employed by the Boards of Management (BoM) and non-teaching staff.

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The money is expected to fill schools accounts starting today. Details show that Sh750 has been allocated per child to cater for teachers employed by BoM, Sh2, 246 towards personal emoluments and will be used to pay non-teaching staff, Sh675 given to the National Hospital Insurance Funds (NHIF) and Sh500 for maintenance and repairs.

On salaries, the Ministry of Education said the money is being released only to teachers who are still active and are retained by schools. It emerged that the data of 43, 000 teachers submitted by TSC to the Ministry may not be accurate as some teachers had quit when the closure of schools to contain spread of Covid-19 was done on March 13^th.

A letter by TSC dated August 4 to the ministry said that the data submitted reflected the pay roll status before the pandemic and to ensure accountability in case of payment of BoM teachers by the government, each head of institution was required provide documentary evidence to confirm employment status of each teacher as provided by TSC boss Nancy Macharia

Data seen by Hello News reveals huge discrepancies on the final list of verified teachers. For instance, in Trans Nzoia County, TSC data showed the boards employed 1,305 teachers, verified by the ministry, only 903 were actively in those schools payrolls.

 “I want to assure that names will be confirmed before any payments are done and we will only cater for BoM teachers whose details will be availed to the ministry,”CS Education Prof Magoha during state of education address

 “We wish to see the money reflected in schools account so that we can sort out staff as most  schools are closed yet they are expected to put measures in place before children report. Lack of funds has hindered these efforts,” said the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) Chairman Kahi Indimuli

CS Education Prof Magoha said that all schools would only reopen in January next year based on the assumption that the infection curve will have flattened by December 2020.

An education stakeholder meeting in July set minimum reopening conditions that included reducing physical contact in learning institutions by having fewer learners. Other conditions were maintaining right social or physical distancing to ensure safety and health of learners and erecting hand washing points.