A headmaster of a Senior High School in the country has bemoaned the delay in releasing funds for managing Senior High Schools under the free SHS policy.

The headteacher, who identified himself as John (not his real name), said the situation creates inconveniences, thus affects the smooth running of senior high schools across the country.

"Since school resumed in March, no funds have been released for the form 1 students," he told hosts of the Super Morning Show Wednesday, May 26.

He cited as an example, that the delay in release of funds leads to delays in food supply.

"Formerly, we were buying food from the local market and feeding our students with whatever fees they paid. But now we have to wait on the buffer stock company to supply foodstuff, but they delay.

The food situation is alarming. What is worrying is that, because of upward adjustment in prices, food suppliers are not willing to bring the items. They bring them to you in reduced quantities and if you reject them, the students will go hungry," he said.

He added that consequently, school authorities on various occasions have had to cater for the needs of the students from their own coffers. "For the food aspect, we find a way of getting food for the children to eat," John stated

The headteacher noted however that the situation gets worse when it gets to the examination period. "Teachers bring in questions that we need money to buy A4 sheets, toner, cartridges and others to print but there is no money," he said.

Amidst the challenges, John intimated that colleague headteachers are afraid to voice out their plights for fear of being victimised. He said there have been instances where headteachers who complain about these challenges are made to suffer.

"If you speak up, they frustrate you. You'll be transferred to a district office or to a place where you may not like because you're telling the truth."

"One that comes to mind is the Nungua Presby headmaster who appealed for furniture. He was taken away and the situation still persists."

The frustrated headteacher described sleeping on the floor by students as normal.

"For sleeping on the floor, it's a normal phenomenon due to congestion. Where there is space, there are no beds, and my colleagues will not speak because if you're not careful, you will be transferred or sanctioned for speaking out," he said.

More concerns are emerging about challenges bedeviling the implementation of the free SHS programme.

The programme which took off in 2017 has been widely hailed as a game-changer as more than a million students currently have access to second cycle education with government bearing the cost.

However, on Tuesday, May 25 edition of the Super Morning Show, some parents raised concerns over issues hampering the implementation of the free SHS programme.

According to them, they preferred paying school fees to having their children continue under the free SHS programme due to lapses in the rollout of the policy.

They said though the programme allows for free tuition, they have to spend more on providing private tuition for their wards during the vacation period.

Other concerns raised were on the quality of food, accommodation, and tuition provided to their wards. 

The headmaster also stated that his colleague headteachers have on several occasions contemplated on closing down schools due to these challenges.