Machogu warns principals against fees hike
By Harrison.Kivisu, November 9, 2023Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu yesterday declared that the government has no intention to increase secondary school fees next year.
Machogu told delegates attending the ongoing Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) conference in Mombasa that the government is aware of the challenges parents are enduring and warned that action will be taken against any school head who will be found violating the set school fees guidelines.
“I wish to clarify that contrary to recent reports in sections of the media, there is no intention on the part of the government to increase school fees. The school fees for boarding schools will remain at the currently approved rates. School administrators will therefore be required to ensure adherence to the prevailing circulars and directives on the matter,” said Machogu.
Machogu said the government will also continue to support schools and learners through capitation. “I wish to commit that we will support all our schools with the required capitation, and we thank the MPs for standing firm on this, for this coming term, what we are assuring schools, capitation will be available before schools are reopened,” said Machogu.
Compulsory basic education
He said the government was committed to ensuring the right to free and compulsory basic education.
“The government has been implementing the Free Primary Education programme. Currently, we fund each learner to the tune of Sh1,420. For Junior School, the government provides capitation at the rate of Sh15,042 per learner.
“Learners in our secondary schools are funded at Sh22,240 per learner,” said the CS who further called on school heads to ensure prudent use of monies allocated to them by the government.
Machogu warned school heads against engaging in plunder of public resources, stating that corruption or any form of mismanagement will not be condoned.
“We have allocated over Sh630 billion to the education sector and teachers have a role to ensure the budget is commensurate with the quality of education delivered in schools,” noted the CS.