Fees dilemma for parents next term

Parents will wait a little longer to know the government’s position on the implementation of the new school fees guidelines, Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi has said.

Consultations were ongoing on the fees to be charged when schools open on January 5, next year, Prof Kaimenyi said.

“It should be clear that the government has not increased any school fees as a circular that was issued previously clearly states what schools ought to charge,” he told the Nation Tuesday.

The minister maintained that the Dr Kilemi Mwiria-led task force report on secondary school fees could not be implemented as it is since it had not been sanctioned by the government.

Prof Kaimenyi said extra levies may be charged for infrastructure, purchase of equipment, school tours or lunch for day schools but must be approved by county education boards.

However, fees structures released by several schools go contrary to the government directive, with some of them asking for more than Sh70,000.

FEE STRUCTURES

A parent with two children, one in Vihiga Boys High School and the another one at Ingotse High School in Kakamega County, has two varying fee structures.

The parent is required to pay Sh70,000 at Ingoste and Sh42,000 at Vihiga.

The task force presented its report to President Uhuru Kenyatta in October. The report proposes that day schools charge Sh11,105, boarding Sh38,969 and special schools Sh22,830.

The team proposed that the State provides a subsidy of Sh12,870 for secondary schools and Sh32,600 for special needs category.

However, Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers (Kuppet) secretary-general Akelo Misori said Prof Kaimenyi should be bold enough and issue the guidelines before the end of next week to give parents time to plan.

“We do not want the government to surprise parents with fees guidelines at the end of this month. The task force report is a populist approach that needs to be handled with care,” Mr Misori said.

He reiterated that the education sector needed a decisive Cabinet Secretary, accusing Prof Kaimenyi of failing to live up to the expectation of Kenyans.

“The issue of school fees is a sensitive matter that requires a decision and not procrastination,” the unionist said.

Kenya National Association of Parents secretary-general Musau Ndunda said parents were disappointed with CS.

“The task force came up with a realistic cost of educating a child but the CS has been playing games with the issue,” Mr Ndunda said.