- The Ministry of Education issued new guidelines on fees payable by parents on June 16, 2021
- Basi Education Regulations 2015, Section 44, 45 and 46 stipulates free and compulsory education
- Public schools and institutions have been ordered to display their fees structure on their notice boards
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Parents with learners in public schools and institutions can breathe a sigh of relief after the Ministry of Education sent a stern warning to headteachers imposing extra fees.
The move comes days after parents complained of hiked fees stating that schools charge fees beyond the stipulated amount.
New school fees guidelines
The Ministry of Education issued new guidelines on fees payable by parents on June 16, 2021.
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But in a statement from Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha to schools on Tuesday, August 10, through Education Principal Secretary Paul Kibet, the CS indicated that some schools continue to charge fees outside the guidelines leading to dissatisfaction from parents and guardians.
''The ministry has received numerous complaints from parents, sponsors of needy students and the general public regarding schools charging illegal levies. Furthermore, it is noted that schools recover these levies upfront before crediting money paid as fees into the students' fees accounts. This makes students have false fees arrears leading to them being sent home,'' said Magoha.Lunch programme in schools
The tough-talking Cabinet secretary observed that where the lunch program is in place, the same should be made optional and reasonable, considering the reduced term or academic year.
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He cited the Basi Education Regulations 2015, Section 44, 45 and 46 on free and compulsory education that state no public school or institution shall issue alternative fees structures other than those approved by the cabinet secretary.
''No person or board of management in a public institution of basic education and training shall alter or increase fees without written authority from the cabinet secretary. The members of the board of management of an institution that contravenes regulations 44 or 45 shall jointly and severally be guilty of an offence under the Act,'' Magoha warned.Magoha told the school heads that any unreported case (s) of a school (s) charging illegal levies should attract sanctions on the responsible officer.
He indicated that the reports on payment of school fees should be submitted to the director secondary for compiling and further processing.
''Any school that desires to charge amounts above the stipulated fees must make a formal request to the cabinet secretary and will only charge after granting written authorisation. No child will be sent away for non-payment of such fees,'' Magoha said.
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Displaying fees structure on notice boards
The CS also ordered schools to display their fees structure prominently on their notice boards.
Magoha, at the same time, directed schools that charged fees outside the guidelines to refund parents or treat the extra funds as prepayment of fees for continuing students.
''Given the above, all the county and sub-county directors of education are directed to report to the principal secretary any board of management whose institution is charging illegal levies with immediate effect,'' he said.In July 2021, Magoha announced that the government had already released KSh 59.4 billion to primary schools and KSh 15.2 billion to secondary schools for the 2020/2021 academic year.
He said the issues of lack of finances should not arise following the disbursement of funds.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
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