Education CS asked to rein in on school heads charging higher fees
Parliamentary Committee on Education Chairperson Sabina Chege speaks at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi on February 6, 2015. The committee has asked Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to rein in on school heads who have ignored guidelines on school fees. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Chairperson Sabina Chege says it is unfair for parents to be exploited yet there are fees guidelines to be followed.
- Matayos Member of Parliament Godfrey Odanga noted that education should not be a preserve for the rich.
- Mr Odanga added that the fees charged in schools should be determined by need and cost of items.
- A few parents are strategically planted in well-choreographed schemes to pass abnormal proposed budgets during Parents meetings in schools.
Education Committee in the National Assembly has asked Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to rein in on school heads who have ignored guidelines on school fees.
The Committee chairperson Sabina Chege said it’s unfair for parents to continue to be exploited yet there are guidelines that are supposed to be implemented on how much to pay as fees.
“As a committee we are concerns with the unnecessary increase in fee and in fact we expect the government to reduce the fees,” Ms Chege told Nation.
Separately, Matayos Member of Parliament Godfrey Odanga echoed similar sentiments noting that education should not be a preserve for the rich in the society.
“Parents do not have equal income. A lot of times rich parents have quickly agreed to board of management proposals to raise fees against the weak voices,” said Mr Odanga who is also a member of the Education Committee.
He went on: “I suggest the rich pay those large fee they suggest as a minimum is charged to the common man.”
Mr Odanga added that the fees charged in schools should be determined by need and cost of items and all stakeholders should be involved.
A concern parent writing in Daily Nation, observed that few parents are strategically planted in well-choreographed schemes and stand up first to pass abnormal proposed budgets during Parents meetings in schools.
The parent added that a silent majority to don’t openly oppose the budget for fear that their children will be victimised.
During second term most schools increased fees to as high as Sh100, 000 a year in blatant disregard of Education Ministry guidelines.
The ministry guidelines on school fees, put the ceiling at Sh53, 554 a year, but schools have increased the fees by as much as Sh40, 000 by introducing other levies along the way.
The move goes against an agreement reached in January between the Ministry of Education, teachers’ unions and the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association.
However, the Ministry of Education has been unwilling to comment on the issue.
