Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha has issued another tough warning to public schools flouting directives on fees structures. Further, he directed county and sub-county directors to report institutions charging illegal levies.
This comes after reports that some schools continue to charge extra fees outside the revised guidelines leading to dissatisfaction from the parents and guardians.
Parents also complained of a corrupt scheme by school heads to defraud them by forcing them to buy school items from pre-selected suppliers and directing them to pay the money to the schools so that the schools procure the same for the children at prices that are twice the market price.
The ministry of education has directed school principles to admit all students who sat for the 2020 kcpe examination including those who may not have full school fees.
“With the release of the capitation funds, principals are advised to keep all their learners at their respective schools to ensure no part of class time is lost during the shortened academic calendar,” Warned the CS last week while announcing the release of capitation to schools.
The Cabinet Secretary said that the government will be watching to ensure no child will be disadvantaged in accessing quality education as it aims to attains a 100 per cent transition rate from primary to secondary schools.
BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTY OF EDUCATION
RE: CHARGING OF ILLEGAL LEVIES BY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Ministry of Education issued new guidelines on fees payable by parents on 16th June 2021 Vide circular Ref: MOE.HQS/3/13/3. However, it has been reported that some schools continue to charge fees outside the guidelines leading to dissatisfaction from the parents and guardians.
The Ministry has received numerous complaints from parents, sponsors of needy students and the general public regarding schools charging illegal levies.
It is noted that schools recover these levies upfront before crediting money paid as fees into the students’ fees accounts. This makes students have false fees arrears leading to them being sent home.
Where lunch program is in place, the same should be made optional and be reasonable taking into consideration the reduced term or academic year.
Your attention is drawn to the Basic Education Regulations 2015, Section 44, 45 and 46 on free and compulsory education which states as follows:
Section (44): No public school or institution shall issue alternative fees structures other than those approved by the Cabinet Secretary.
Section (45): No person or Board of Management in a public institution of basic education and training shall alter or increase fees without written authority from the Cabinet Secretary.
Section (46) The members of the Board of Management of an institution which contravenes regulation 44 or 45 shall jointly and severally be guilty of an offence under the Act.
You are notified that any unreported case(s) of a school(s) charging illegal levies will attract sanction on the responsible officer. Your reports should be submitted to director secondary vide email address: directorsecondary2018@tgmail.com for compiling and further processing.
Any school that desires to charge amounts above the stipulated fees must make a formal request to the Cabinet Secretary and will only charge after written authorization has been granted.
No child will be sent away for non-payment of such fees. Schools are ordered to display their fees structure prominently on their notice boards. Any fees collected above the revised guidelines be refunded or treated as prepayment of fees for continuing students.
In view of the above, all the County and Sub County Directors of Education are directed to report to the Principal Secretary any Board of Management whose institution is charging illegal levies with immediate effect.
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
Copy to: 1. Cabinet Secretary
2. Administrative Secretaries
3. CEO Teachers Service Commission
4. Chair, National Parents Association
Following multiple complaints and decrees from parents bearing the brunt of the deteriorating economy in the country occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, the government reduced secondary school fees by 8,500 shillings less for national school students.
This means national schools will now pay 45,054 shillings while extra county and county schools will pay 35,035 shillings. Prof Magoha warned that extra charges will not be tolerated.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Macharia also directed school heads to stick to the stipulated school fees and avoid burdening parents with unnecessary levies.
CEO Nancy Macharia warned that it will punish school heads flouting fees guidelines as the commission carries out an investigation.
“The TSC is investigating a few allegations that some teachers are not complying with Government directives on fees. Action will be taken on those found culpable,” CEO Nancy Macharia said.
“I want to direct that all heads of schools take to STP rated school fees. Some teachers are not complying with government directives directive on fees. action will be taken on those fields if they are found culpable.” Said Macharia.
Term one begun on July 26th and learners will have another one week break from October 2nd to October 10th before they open for the second term the following day. The term will run until December 23rd.
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