No reduced fees as schools open for second term

By PROTUS ONYANGO

Kenya: Hopes of thousands of parents for paying reduced school fees have been dashed after the Government failed to announce new fees guidelines for the new term starting this Monday.

This means parents will have to part with huge amounts as directed by individual schools. And the Head Teachers Association said yesterday that without the guidelines, parents will have to pay what is demanded by the institutions.

Yesterday, The Standard on Saturday learnt that a taskforce that was looking into the matter of issuing guidelines and easing the burden for parents will not file its report for another one month.

The chairman of the taskforce, former Education minister Kilemi Mwiria said the team can only issue the recommendation next month. It will be too late for parents who were hoping that the team set up by Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Jacob Kaimenyi would save them from high fees.

Hidden charges

Set up two months ago, the taskforce has membership from 21 institutions. The high fees have also been blamed on Value Added tax (VAT) recently slapped on books.

He added:  “We want to do a good job. We have got a variety of suggestions from all stakeholders and we need the experts to summarise and harmonise the reports so that we can know the actual cost of quality secondary education.”

The taskforce was to deliver its report before the beginning of second term, which begins on Monday, but Dr Mwiria says it will do a draft report on June 3.

The taskforce was formed after parents accused head teachers of introducing hidden charges that have raised school fees beyond the reach of many parents and guardians.

Kennedy Buhere, the Public Relations Officer at the ministry of Education said parents have to wait.

“The task force came back to the ministry and requested for more time. They were given more time because the CS said he needs a good job done,” Mr Buhere said.

John Awiti, the chairman of the Kenya Secondary Schools Head teachers Association who is also a member of the taskforce pleaded for more time.

“Parents will be forced to pay fees according to the guidelines issued by schools in January but I assure them that when we present the report, the parents will be happy,” Awiti said.

Zablon Awange, the chairman of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, Kisumu County branch defended the fees and accused the government of being responsible for the high cost of education.

Illegal fees

“The fees levied by schools are discussed by parents and approved by District Education Boards. However, illegal fees is unwarranted,” he said.

Musau Ndunda, the chairman of the Kenya National Association of Parents who is a member of the taskforce also said that parents will be forced to pay high fees before the taskforce finishes its work.

“We need time to come up with an agreeable document. As an organisation, we have gone to the Constitutional court to challenge the high fees,” Ndunda said.

Currently, national public schools charge between Sh60, 000 to Sh100, 000 per year as fees minus other requirements like uniform, games, development and trips.