The ministry for finance has come up with new guidelines aimed at ensuring that capitation grants for both primary and secondary schools aided by government reach on time without delays.

According to the deputy secretary to treasury Keith Muhakanizi, the ministry has reviewed the method of remitting money to schools whereby instead of sending it to the district account for onward submission to schools’ accounts, it will go directly to school accounts in case of secondary schools.

Keith Muhakanizi

Sources in the ministry for education and sports which are privy to the ongoing talks between government and teachers informed us that in case of primary schools, the funds will go to the district account after which the CAO will submit it to the schools’ accounts, and that he (CAO) is supposed to make a public notice which he will pin on the notice board indicating the amount of money received and the number of pupils it is meant to cater for.

The sources add that in case of secondary schools, when the money goes to the school’s account, the head teacher will be obliged to issue a notice and pin in on the notice board indicating the amount received and the number of students it is to cater for.

The sources said that the reviews came after complaints by head teachers that this money delays to reach schools due to bureaucracy, adding that finance developed this as a way of ensuring that there is proper accountability for these funds.