Illegal boarding schools to be shut

Authorities will take action against schools that are making students to board against their wishes.

Similarly, day schools that are converting to boarding institutions without the necessary facilities will be shut down.

The Education ministry has explained that the decision for a student to board should be left at the discretion of the parents because of the financial implications.

“Some schools are forcing students in certain classes to become boarders. A learner who is a day scholar must not be forced to board under any circumstance,” said a circular by Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang and sent out to schools yesterday.

The circular signed by Elyas Abdi for the PS was copied to regional, county and sub-county directors of education and school principals and managers.

The circular is reinforcing the guidelines on safety and stability of learning institutions in basic education.

Dr Kipsang explained that the ministry was responsible for safety and security of learners in schools and called on principals to strictly adhere to set guidelines to protect learners from harm.

Without facilities

The PS also had a word for day schools, which are converting into boarding without necessary boarding facilities.

“Likewise, schools have changed the gender specification without authority. This must stop and the illegal boarding closed and re-registration effected for those with changed status,” Kipsang said.

The circular comes in the wake of some schools forcing learners in Standard 7 and 8, as well as Forms One and Two to board. This, according to the principals, helps them prepare students for exams.

But parents who spoke to The Standard lamented that once their children are forced to become boarders, they are asked to buy requirements for boarding and pay some fees. Those who do not have their children sent away.

The PS also warned schools that have introduced illegal levies. “It has been noted that some schools have introduced myriad ways of levying parents illegally. All schools must adhere to gazetted fees structures. Where a school has a genuine reason to change anything above the gazette fees, an authority, in writing, must be obtained from the Cabinet secretary,” Kipsang said.

This comes days after majority of parents with Form Ones protested the illegal levies they are forced to pay.

Parents from across the country, who spoke to The Standard, said most national and extra-county schools were charging between Sh5,000 and Sh20,000 above the Sh54,000 yearly fees.

“The extra levies were not indicated on the admission letter. But meetings were convened after the Form Ones were admitted and we were told to pay more for construction of some facilities, motivation of teachers and extra tuition,” one parent in Nairobi said.

For example, a leading public primary school in Westlands Sub-county in Nairobi is charging parents Sh1,500 as motivation fees for teachers who handle Standard 8 learners.

Another leading girls’ school in the same sub-county is charging parents Sh10,000 per year for construction of dormitories and between Sh7,000 and Sh20,000 for extra tuition for students. In this school, teachers teach from 6am and have classes during weekends, even for Form Ones, to justify the payment of the levies.

A leading boys’ school in Nandi County is also charging Form One parents Sh15,000 for extra tuition. Parents were shocked when they learnt their children could only be accepted back after the mid-term break if they paid the money.

The ministry has also noted that some schools are operating with expired registration certificates.

“Education officials and principals should ensure schools, which have changed their status, are assessed and re-registered. No school should operate with a provisional certificate beyond 18 months,” Kipsang said.

Schools have also been instructed to put in place measures to prevent arson. “Special attention be placed in hostels when students are in for preps,” the PS said.

Education officers should monitor schools to ensure that only teachers registered by the Teachers Service Commission are engaged in teaching, he added.