President Uhuru Kenyatta receives taskforce report on Secondary school fees

PSCU

President Uhuru Kenyatta Wednesday received a report of the taskforce on Secondary school fees at State House, Nairobi.

He said the recommendations should be implemented to ensure equity and quality education for all Kenyan children.

“Every single child should be able to access basic education. The National Government will partner with other stakeholders in this. However Members of Parliament and county governments should also be able to provide funds for physical infrastructure,” said the President.

The taskforce was chaired by former assistant minister Dr. Kilemi Mwiria. He has since been appointed presidential adviser on education.

The President said he fully supports the task force report but insisted on involving all stakeholders before implementation.

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“We can manage our education sector better and use the available resources well. I have been to some schools where you only find 20 students and yet there is another school a kilometer away,” said the President.

The task force proposes next year as a target year for implementing free secondary school education.

To achieve free day secondary school education, the taskforce recommends development partners and county governments to complement state resources.

The report that identified levies included in the school fees structures as hindrances to access of quality education.

On new secondary schools, the taskforce recommends controlled and expansion of existing ones.

It also recommends elimination of measures that discriminate against the poor, especially unnecessary levies, unfair ranking of schools and an inequitable system of admission to secondary and university education.

The taskforce also calls for suspension of registration of new public schools and urges proper regulation of those in existence.

To cut costs in financing secondary school infrastructure, the task force recommends government’s collaboration with the private sector, county governments and Constituency Development Fund.

It also recommends merging of small schools and having two streams for all day schools.

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi and Principal Secretaries Collette Suda and Belio Kipsang were present at the function.