Parents to pay activity fees next term

Parents with children in public primary schools in Vihiga will be required to pay activity fees from January next year, county director of education Obed Guto said on Monday.

In the Free Primary Education programme, the government only pays tuition fees while parents are required to pay other charges among them activity funds, boarding fees and money meant for infrastructure development in schools.

Mr Guto said the activity fee budget, that facilitates pupils and students taking part in sports, music and drama festivals, had been forwarded to the county education board for approval.

Once approved, he said, the budget would be communicated to schools on Tuesday.

CONCERNS RAISED

The move by the government to have parents pay activity funds could leave out most children whose parents may not afford to pay, locking out some talents.

Mr Guto’s sentiments were a response to concerns raised on Friday last week by head teachers and other education stakeholders over delayed communication on activity funds.

They had said that the delay would affect budgeting and planning for 2015 by schools ahead of this year’s academic calendar close.

The fees brewed a controversy after schools in the county failed to fully take part in sport events and other competitions following allegations of misappropriation of funds by education officials.

“The budgeting process to plan for 2015 school activities has been finalised and is awaiting approval by the county education board. I want to assure schools that the levies will be ready by October 28 (today),” said Mr Guto.

Kenya National Union of Teachers branch deputy chairperson Pamela Minayo and Vihiga sub-county Knut chairman Maurice Chalenga, had warned that delays to make the charges known before schools close would affect next year’s planning.

“The levies must be ready by the time the schools close so that we can communicate the same to the parents as we plan for next year,” said Mrs Minayo.