Outcry has greeted the newly gazzetted school fees guidelines with parents in ‘low cost boarding schools’ expressing fear over possible hike in fees to match the new rates.

A spot check across secondary schools revealed many boarding schools charge lower boarding fees of between Sh19,000 and Sh24,000 compared to the new rate of Sh 32,385.

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi this week gazzeted the new fees guidelines that would see parents with students in day schools only pay Sh9,374 per year.

School fees in boarding schools will be Sh53,553 per year while special schools is only Sh37,210.

These rates are arrived at after the Government subsidy of Sh13,000.

In the new guidelines, Prof Kaimenyi has zero rated Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) fees but capped boarding fees at Sh32,385.

And now, a civil society organisation and the parents association want the CS to issue proper guidance that would control ‘arbitrary increase in fees to match the official rates.’

“We are also deeply concerned because some schools that do not charge the gazzetted fees may take advantage. What happens to schools that charged less boarding fees than the prescribed rates? Parents in these schools must be protected,” said Janet Muthoni of Elimu Yetu Coalition.

She said several parents have expressed fear over the possible hike on various components of fees by schools to attain the rate of gazzetted fees.

“The gazzetted guidelines were largely directed to national schools and Extra County schools because they charged more. But what happens to those village schools that charged reasonable fees? They may be prompted to misinterpret the gazzetted guidelines thus increase fees to the detriment of parents,” she said.

Kenya National Parents and Teachers Association (KNPTA) national chairman Nathan Barasa said there is panic among parents over lack of proper clarification on fees for schools that charge low rates.

“There are boarding schools whose total cost is less than Sh30,000. But the new fees guidelines capped it all at Sh53,000. Will they increase fees because it is the official rate? Kaimenyi should come to the aid of parents,” said Mr Barasa.

Samples of 2015 fees structures of such schools reveal some of them charge as low as Sh 19,000 boarding fees against the projected Sh32, 385.

Pangani Girls High Schools fees structure has pegged boarding fees for this term at Sh19,000 spread over three school terms.

The school requires parents to pay Sh 9,500 in first term, Sh6,000 for second term and Sh3,500 for third term.

Mbooni Girls has also capped boarding fees at Sh25,000. Parents paid Sh10,500 during first term and are expected to pay some Sh8,205 in second term. The remaining Sh6,350 shall be paid in third tem.

Parents at St Monica Chakol Girls High School shall pay Sh22,734 this year towards boarding fees.

The amount shall however, be paid in two phases with Sh15,534 in first term and the remaining cost to be settled in second term.

St Albert’s Girls High School, Ulanda in Migori, has also pegged boarding fees at Sh19,034 annually. However, parents’ shall pay an extra Sh5,000 towards dormitory. This brings the total boarding fee to Sh24,034.

In Busia, St Mathias Boys Secondary Schools charges Sh 21,034 as boarding fees, spread across the three terms.

And Homa Bay High School has also pegged boarding fees at Sh24,590.