School fees remain unchanged ahead of reopening: CS Ogamba clarifies

Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has publicly cited government guidelines for the implementation of senior school education, which were handed to principals in November.

The MP warns that these guidelines, which reportedly cite an old Gazette Notice, are directing principals to incorporate an additional Ksh.9,374 into new fee structures, effectively forcing parents to shoulder this cost.

"It is alarming to see that the government unashamedly directs principals of day secondary schools that capitation from January will be Ksh.12,000 from the Ksh.22,244 that has been there before and directing that the burden of Ksh.9,374 will now be shouldered by parents," Nyoro stated.

He attributed the rising confusion to the Minister's failure to clarify the way forward, leaving principals to work on new fee structures based on the attached Gazette Notice.

Ministry Insists Fees Remain Unchanged

In a quick rejoinder, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Ogamba, has firmly insisted that the fee structure for January will remain intact, based on the previous 2019 circular that schools have been using.

In a phone conversation, CS Ogamba insisted that the government will continue supporting Free Day Senior School learners to the extent of Ksh.22,244 per learner per year, directly refuting the claims that the government has authorized the imposition of additional fees.

The Ministry further reiterated its official stance in a statement, saying, "Under the approved implementation framework, boarding schools in major urban centres charge up to Ksh.53,554, all other boarding schools charge up to Ksh.40,535, while Special Needs Schools charge Ksh.12,790. These amounts have remained unchanged and no school is permitted to exceed them."

To quell the speculation, CS Ogamba announced that a new directive is imminent. "In order to put this matter to rest, we are going to issue another circular by this Friday just to clarify so that there is a clean alignment and there is no more room for speculation on whether school fees have been raised or not. We are working on that, and it will be ready by Friday this week," the Cabinet Secretary confirmed.

Concerns Over Teacher Recruitment

The Kiharu lawmaker also raised concerns over delays in absorbing Junior Secondary School (JSS) interns, accusing the government of retreating from its own targets on teacher recruitment, which further strains schools.

"The decision by TSC to send renewal letters also needs to be rescinded. They need to be given an opportunity to serve the country in permanent and pensionable terms. The argument of the government that there is no money to confirm them is an incompetent answer to our brothers and sisters," Nyoro asserted.

Former Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi, who is also the Jubilee Deputy Party Leader, weighed in on the issue of teacher recruitment, viewing the delay as a lack of priorities.

"Can't we make sacrifice from some of these largesse that we are seeing around, people moving around the country rolling out money in millions and so on and so forth, can't we discipline ourselves and avail those resources to go to supporting our children," Dr. Matiangi stated.

The public now awaits the new circular promised by the Education Cabinet Secretary, hoping it will finally bring clarity to the fee structure just before schools open.