Act on schools conducting holiday tuition, Kaimenyi tells County Directors

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi says action will be taken against schools that increased fees to the current ceilings without approval. (Photo:File/Standard)

Nairobi, Kenya: Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi has tasked all County Directors of Education to ensure no school conducts holiday tuition, a directive that comes just before schools go on recess.

The CS also instructed the county directors to ensure all schools adhere to the recommended fee guidelines.

Kaimenyi said that schools that offer tuition during the holidays are committing a gross abuse of rights of children, under the constitution and relevant policies.

“The Ministry has taken into account the curriculum load that the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) in providing for the holidays. April, August and December holidays accord an opportunity to learners to relax and learn important social skills through interactions among themselves and with adults while on holidays," Kaimenyi told the county directors in a circular.

“You are required to ensure that no schools, without exception, under your jurisdiction, conduct holiday tuition. For the avoidance of doubt, all private and public primary and secondary schools are subject to the basic education Act and other policies on education,” he added.

School fees

The CS said that all schools must comply with Gazette notice of March 10, 2015 which prescribes the maximum allowable fees they should charge parents.

“You are expected to take appropriate action on schools which are charging fees way above the recommended fees or which increased fees to the current ceilings without approval,” said Kaimenyi.

The ministry recommends that the maximum cost of day schooling is Sh22,244 while that of boarding schools is Sh66,424 and Sh69,810 for special needs secondary schools.

With the government capitation of Sh12,870 for regular schools and Sh32,600 for special needs schools, the maximunm payable fees should be Sh9,374 for day schools, Sh53,553 for boarding schools and Sh37,210 for special needs achools.

Schools are to spread these fees into three school terms at the ratio of 50:30:20.