Public schools could be forced to close early or ask parents to chip in after the National Treasury said that it would release Sh48 billion capitation funds next month.

Teachers and parents are warning of dark days ahead for the troubled education sector one week after schools reopened for the first term.

Last week, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said that the earliest schools could get the capitation was at the end of January after the government pays loans.

National Parents Association (NPA), revealed that many schools are currently shouldering debts incurred in the last financial year.