The Ministry of Education has unveiled new guidelines for the financial management of schools across the country.

The Ministry of Education has unveiled new guidelines for the financial management of schools across the country.

The Ministry of Education has unveiled new guidelines for the financial management of schools across the country. These guidelines require that the Board of Management (BoM) prepare authorized budget estimates for both revenue and expenditure, and develop a procurement strategy in line with the approved budget. This information was conveyed through various memos from county directors to school heads, which were reviewed by Education News.

One such memo highlights that, according to Section 16(1) of Part 1 of the Fourth Schedule of the Basic Education Act, 2013, the BoM of a public basic education institution must prepare annual estimates of revenue and expenditure. These estimates should be prepared in a format and within a timeframe prescribed by the Cabinet Secretary.

School heads are also instructed to submit a report within 15 days after the end of each quarter of the fiscal year.

The memo specifies, “Institutions must prepare monthly trial balances and submit them to the County Director of Education through the respective Sub-County Directors of Education. Additionally, a quarterly report, detailing both financial and non-financial performance, must be submitted no later than 15 days after the end of each quarter.”

The Ministry emphasized the need for principals to conduct and document cash surveys to ensure the accuracy and completeness of cash on hand. Furthermore, monthly bank reconciliations should be completed promptly after each month ends.

Accounts detailing revenue received and collected during the fiscal year must be submitted for audit within three months after the fiscal year concludes.

Principals are also reminded to follow the guidelines provided in the circulars dated January 30, 2019, February 12, 2020, and any future circulars regarding the approval processes for Maintenance and Improvement Funds (MIF) and Transitional Infrastructure Grants (TIG).

These directives come shortly after CS Machogu announced that school principals will soon be required to appear before parliamentary committees to address questions related to their institution’s funding.

During the closing of the KESSHA conference in Mombasa, Machogu remarked that the government now considers schools as entities accountable to Parliament. He noted, “The world is evolving, and secondary schools are now classified as audit units, so principals will no longer have the Education CS or Principal Secretary answering on their behalf. Instead, they will be invited to respond to questions posed by parliamentary committees.”

The CS issued a stern warning to head teachers, cautioning that any unauthorized levies would result in them being summoned before the parliamentary committee.

The Ministry of Education has unveiled new guidelines for the financial management of schools across the country.