Matiang’i wants parents to deposit cash in schools to pay for damage

Parents will be forced to deposit money in schools that they would forfeit if their children breach rules, under a Ministry of Education proposal meant to curb indiscipline.

Education Secretary Fred Matiang’i told the Senate Committee on Education that plans are under way to introduce an indemnity agreement between parents and schools.

Under the agreement, parents would deposit cash in schools that will be ceded to the schools should their children break rules. Cash to be surrendered will be graduated based on the severity of the breach.

“We are considering making parents sign an indemnity agreement with the schools hoping that this will compel them to be more involved in the activities of their children in school,” said Dr Matiang’i.

The measure follows an escalating wave of arson attacks at public secondary schools, with 130 students already charged in court.

UNRESOLVED GRIEVANCES

Constitutional lawyer Peter Wanyama opposed the plans.

“The indemnity agreement is largely unnecessary because parents already pay school fees which covers for contingencies,” he said.

The Constitution requires wide consultation for the regulations to become operational, including public participation and parliamentary approval.

Dr Matiangi said introducing the indemnity agreement is aimed at saving government resources, including the Constituency Development Fund, that are normally used to rebuild damaged or destroyed school property.

Preliminary results from investigations into student unrest in 2016 revealed that lack of coherent and focused structures for student engagement with school managers was to blame.

Other causes of the unrest include unresolved grievances that school managers failed to address in time and weak supervision and quality assessment in schools.