Head teachers on the spot as ministry begins investigation on fees
What you need to know:
- The Education ministry is investigating reports that some schools have ignored fees guidelines and are charging more than the gazetted amounts.
- Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has sent senior ministry officials to check on the schools.
- Day school fees were set at Sh9,374, boarding at Sh53,543 and special education schools at Sh37,210 a year.
- Public secondary schools have, however, devised ways of ripping off parents by charging for items catered for by the ministry.
The Education ministry is investigating reports that some schools have ignored fees guidelines and are charging more than the gazetted amounts.
Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has sent senior ministry officials to check on the schools and action would be taken against them by the end of the week.
According to the guidelines issued in February last year, the ministry categorised schools as day, boarding and special needs.
Day school fees were set at Sh9,374, boarding at Sh53,543 and special education schools at Sh37,210 a year. The fees should be paid in instalments in the ratio of 50:30:20 over the three terms.
RIPPING OFF PARENTS
Public secondary schools have, however, devised ways of ripping off parents by charging for items catered for by the ministry.
On Tuesday, Mr Matiang’i is expected to meet Kenya Private Schools Association officials to try and resolve a dispute over Form One places.
Announcing the meeting last week, the CS said: “We are not going to be bent, pushed or politicised in making decisions. Let us a look at facts as they are and let us look for solutions that are sustainable, I am ready to listen to their concerns but we also must do what is good for everyone,” said Dr Matiang’i.
Meanwhile, President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to launch the curriculum review process later this month.
The new curriculum is expected to shift education from a subject-based curriculum to one that is competence based.
“The vision of the curriculum reform is nurturing every learner’s potential and this will address key issues such as ethical values, equity, diversity, equality opportunity and excellence for all learners,” Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said last week.
Even as the schools are opening, the government is yet to release the free school funds for this term.
This is even after it promised to be releasing the money on time to facilitate smooth commencement of the term.
PERPETUAL DELAY
School heads have previously complained of the perpetual delay in the release of the funds which the education ministry attributes to bureaucracy at the Treasury.
On the curriculum to be launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development has already had a consultative meeting to review tools for gathering the public’s views on what should be taught in schools.
The director of the KICD, Julius Jwan said they have embarked on an 18-month long review of the curriculum which could, in 2018, lead to a new system of education.
Speaking to Nation, Uwezo Kenya Regional Co-coordinator John Mugo the review was timely as the current system adding that the current system only favours five per cent of the students as only that number are cognitively gifted.
“The curriculum should have diversified options, and should emphasize on problem solving and critical thinking,” said Dr Mugo.
