Gov't orders parents to pay school fees via eCitizen

Parents of students in public schools will now be mandated to pay fees for their children through the government’s online platform, eCitizen.

A memo to all national school principals dated January 31, 2024 and signed by Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang directed the institution heads to share school bank account details with the office of the State Department's Director General by Tuesday, February 6, 2024.

This, the PS said, is part of the government’s efforts to onboard all government services onto the e-Citizen platform to enhance service delivery.

"The directorate of e-Citizen in partnership with the Information Communication Technology Authority (ICTA), Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy and the National Treasury have been coordinating the onboarding of all government services onto the eCitizen platform to enhance service delivery," the circular read in part.

"As part of compliance with the requirements it is directed that parents/guardians make fee payments for their learners in your institutions through this platform."

The payment of school fees through the platform is part of a plan to make it the latest addition to the pool of over 5,000 government services offered on the eCitizen portal that was revamped and launched by President William Ruto in June 2023.

To seal all loopholes, the Ministry of Education has further directed school heads to quit charging extra levies to parents outside authorized fees.

In a circular sent on February 2, PS Kipsang said the ministry caters for tuition requirements through capitation for primary and junior secondary schools hence no extra fees should be charged.

He directed that action will be taken on school principals, board of management and headteachers who charge unauthorized levies.

The PS further stated that no child should be denied schooling for failing to pay for the school lunch programme since it is optional.