2013 capitation grant – more money seems to be getting to schools
But most parents do not know what the schools should get
Capitation grant receipts in schools in just the first quarter of 2013 are reported to be almost equal to the average that was disbursed for the whole year over the previous three years. Between 2010 and 2012, schools received on average TZS 2,202 per pupil per year instead of the proscribed TZS 10,000. But in the first quarter of 2013, schools reportedly received TZS 2,094. While this amount is still less than one quarter of TZS 10,000, it represents a considerable improvement from previous years. If this trend continues we may see a full disbursement of the capitation grant in 2013.
However, parents are unable to follow up on funds as 8 out of 10 parents do not know how much capitation grant should be disbursed each year. Among head teachers, however, knowledge is higher, with more than half (54%) being able to name the correct amount that each school is entitled to per pupil.
These findings were released by Twaweza in a research brief titled Capitation grants in primary education: a decade since their launch, does money reach schools? The brief is based on data from Sauti za Wananchi, a nationally representative mobile phone survey of households across mainland Tanzania.
The recent results for secondary school children completing Form Four have created national debate on the quality of education in Tanzania. The capitation grant, first introduced through the Primary Education Development Program (PEDP) in 2002, was designed to improve basic quality. Specifically the grant is meant to enable public schools to buy books and other teaching and learning materials, and to pay for small repairs, administration and examination expenses. PEDP also specifies a number of rules and regulations that are supposed to be followed by schools to ensure transparent and effective use of these funds.
Schools are required to have a manual that provides the rules for capital grant expenditure, 95% of head teachers report that their school does have the manual;
A large majority of head teachers (86%) can name the portion of the capitation grant, meant to be spent on books according to Ministry of Education and Vocational Training directives;
Schools are supposed to have public notice boards displaying how they spend capitation grant money, 80% of them do
These findings indicate that schools have the understanding and capacity to manage implementing capitation grant funds as required. However, almost two thirds of head teachers (63%) report that they are dissatisfied with the disbursement of capitation grant. In addition, almost all head teachers (93%) report that their school has a shortage of books.
But head teachers are not sitting idle. Almost all of them report following up when capitation grant funds are not received, with District Education Officers, School Committees and Village Committees among others. Only 17% of respondents report that they do not follow up at all.
Elvis Mushi, Researcher at Twaweza, commented on the findings: “Despite the potentially positive findings this year, it is clear that intended money is not reaching all schools in full and on time. Head teachers are trying to follow up and help their schools to move forward but schools are still under-resourced and struggling to achieve quality.”
Rakesh Rajani, Head of Twaweza, said “They key issue is transparency. Parents, teachers, and the public overall should know what’s going on. We should be able to track: are there enough funds in the budget? Are they getting stuck at the district council? Are they being used properly at the school level? If all this information was made available online and on mobile phones, everybody from ordinary citizens to the President would be able to help our children get what they deserve.”
But most parents do not know what the schools should get
Capitation grant receipts in schools in just the first quarter of 2013 are reported to be almost equal to the average that was disbursed for the whole year over the previous three years. Between 2010 and 2012, schools received on average TZS 2,202 per pupil per year instead of the proscribed TZS 10,000. But in the first quarter of 2013, schools reportedly received TZS 2,094. While this amount is still less than one quarter of TZS 10,000, it represents a considerable improvement from previous years. If this trend continues we may see a full disbursement of the capitation grant in 2013.
However, parents are unable to follow up on funds as 8 out of 10 parents do not know how much capitation grant should be disbursed each year. Among head teachers, however, knowledge is higher, with more than half (54%) being able to name the correct amount that each school is entitled to per pupil.
These findings were released by Twaweza in a research brief titled Capitation grants in primary education: a decade since their launch, does money reach schools? The brief is based on data from Sauti za Wananchi, a nationally representative mobile phone survey of households across mainland Tanzania.
The recent results for secondary school children completing Form Four have created national debate on the quality of education in Tanzania. The capitation grant, first introduced through the Primary Education Development Program (PEDP) in 2002, was designed to improve basic quality. Specifically the grant is meant to enable public schools to buy books and other teaching and learning materials, and to pay for small repairs, administration and examination expenses. PEDP also specifies a number of rules and regulations that are supposed to be followed by schools to ensure transparent and effective use of these funds.
Schools are required to have a manual that provides the rules for capital grant expenditure, 95% of head teachers report that their school does have the manual;
A large majority of head teachers (86%) can name the portion of the capitation grant, meant to be spent on books according to Ministry of Education and Vocational Training directives;
Schools are supposed to have public notice boards displaying how they spend capitation grant money, 80% of them do
These findings indicate that schools have the understanding and capacity to manage implementing capitation grant funds as required. However, almost two thirds of head teachers (63%) report that they are dissatisfied with the disbursement of capitation grant. In addition, almost all head teachers (93%) report that their school has a shortage of books.
But head teachers are not sitting idle. Almost all of them report following up when capitation grant funds are not received, with District Education Officers, School Committees and Village Committees among others. Only 17% of respondents report that they do not follow up at all.
Elvis Mushi, Researcher at Twaweza, commented on the findings: “Despite the potentially positive findings this year, it is clear that intended money is not reaching all schools in full and on time. Head teachers are trying to follow up and help their schools to move forward but schools are still under-resourced and struggling to achieve quality.”
Rakesh Rajani, Head of Twaweza, said “They key issue is transparency. Parents, teachers, and the public overall should know what’s going on. We should be able to track: are there enough funds in the budget? Are they getting stuck at the district council? Are they being used properly at the school level? If all this information was made available online and on mobile phones, everybody from ordinary citizens to the President would be able to help our children get what they deserve.”
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