Fees shocker as pupils return to school today
By Reuben.Mwambingu, May 30, 2022Learners return to school today after a short mid-term break amid outcry by parents over extra levies charged by some schools.
Many parents are decrying what they termed as extra burdens imposed by schools, which they say have been done in total disregard of the current high inflation rate.
“Can you imagine that, at Murang’a High School, we are required to pay an extra Sh40,000 for construction of a new dormitory. This amount is to be paid by each student in installments,” said a parent who sought anonymity for fear that her child could be victimised by the school for questioning the levies.
Caught unawares
The levies have caught many parents by surprise, considering the sorry state of the economy. According to the parent, the pupils are also required to return from mid-term today with Sh3,000 each for computer classes.
“We attended a parents’ meeting last Friday and the school principal announced that Form One parents are required to pay Sh40,000 for a new dormitory. Many parents have protested the move but the school principal will hear none of it,” said the parent who resides in Mombasa.
Efforts to reach the head teacher on phone were unsuccessful, as our calls went unanswered.
Edward Besada, another parent whose child is a student at Ribe Girls in Kilifi County, said the school is levying Sh10,000 for construction of new buildings.
The amount, Besada said, is to be remitted in installments and be cleared by the end of third term. But there is more.
“The Sh10,000 is not the only headache we have. We are required, as parents, to pay around Sh1,500 remedial fees and another cash amount for Board of Management teachers … These figures were never included in the fees structure,” Besada explained to ‘People Daily’ in Mombasa.
Normally discussed
Contacted, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) Mombasa branch chairman Peter Watoro said he was not aware of any case of extra levies charged by schools in the area.
He, however, said most of the levies charged are normally discussed in parents’ meetings, approved by BOMs and the requests sent to the County Education director who then forwards it to the national offices.
“Such cases are normally on a need basis. The parents are summoned for discussion and a decision is reached,” Watoro explained.
Last Thursday, form one parents at Upper Hill School in Nairobi county protested extra levies imposed on them as learners left for the mid-term break.
The money, ‘People Daily’ learnt, was to offset past debts.
“Each student is to pay Sh6,000 in 2022. These monies will go towards offsetting the accumulated creditors from 2015-2019, which have risen to Sh30.4 million,” reads a note to the parents.