School fees shocker for secondary schools

Education PS Julius Bitok issues KCSE Chemistry Paper 1 (Theory) to candidates at Kapkondot Secondary School, Kerio Valley, on November 3, 2025. [Julius Bitok, X] Parents will from next year pay Sh53,554 as tuition fees for their children in secondary schools when the first cohort of Junior Secondary School joins Senior school. The good news, however, is that day schools will be exempted from paying fees as the government maintains the free day secondary education policy. At the same time, senior schools will have a maximum of 45 learners per class and must include facilities that are disability-friendly. The details are contained in a new document titled 'Guidelines for the Implementation of Senior Secondary School Education,' released by the Ministry of Education. The document will form the blueprint of the transition of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) to Senior Secondary school. From next year, each school will be re-registered and renamed according to the career pathways they offer. These pathways are Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences, or Arts and Sports Science. "Every school will be aligned to at least one pathway, and infrastructure will be developed to support the selected specialization," the guidelines reads. The new guidelines come as the first cohort of Junior Secondary School learners transitions to Grade 10 under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework in January. The new phase, referred to as Senior School, will comprise Grades 10, 11, and 12, marking the end of basic education for learners aged 15 to 17. "The implementation of Senior School Education represents a crucial phase in Kenya's shift to a learner-centred approach," the guidelines state. The Ministry says the uniform fee structure will promote equity and streamline the financing of Senior School education. Over the years, school heads have defied fees guidelines even as the cost payable was fixed based on schools category. National schools fees was pegged at about Sh53,554 while parents with learners in Extra county schools paid about Sh45,554. Those with learners in County schools paid about Sh40,554. Despite these guidelines, schools mooted ways of raising extra levies, stretching monies payable by parents. With the new guidelines, once implemented, the fees in extra county (now categorised as C2) and County schools (now C3) will be raised to match the amount paid in National schools. Under the new guidelines, learners in Senior School will take seven subjects: four core subjects and three electives. The core subjects are English, Kiswahili or Kenya Sign Language (KSL), Mathematics (Core or Essential), and Community Service Learning (CSL). Students in the STEM pathway will take Core Mathematics, while those in the Social Sciences and Arts and Sports Science pathways will take Essential Mathematics. "A learner in a non-STEM pathway may still take Core Mathematics if their Junior School results demonstrate readiness," the document reads. Besides the four core subjects, each learner will select three additional subjects - at least two from their preferred pathway and one from another if they wish. Schools will follow a fixed timetable with eight lessons per day, totalling 40 lessons per week. Each lesson will last 40 minutes. The school day will start at 8.00 a.m. with roll call and assembly, while formal lessons will run from 8.20 a.m. to 3.20 p.m. There will be short breaks after every two lessons, including a 10-minute break, a 30-minute mid-morning break, and a one-hour lunch break. Physical Education will be taught three times a week, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) twice a week, and Lesson Study and Pastoral or Religious Programme Instruction (P/RPI) once a week. Also, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will phase out the KCSE and introduce a new Competency-Based Assessment system made up of continuous school-based evaluations and a final national test at the end of Grade 12. The national test will mark the completion of basic education with a final certification to be known as the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE). "Assessment will measure how learners apply knowledge, skills, and values. It will move away from ranking and focus on demonstrating competence," says the Ministry. Learners will be assessed through projects, portfolios, and practical tasks that demonstrate competence rather than memory recall. KNEC will compile School-Based Assessments (SBA) for each grade and issue a national report highlighting subject performance and areas requiring intervention. At the end of Grades 10 and 11, learners will receive a School Year Report (SYR) summarising their academic and competency progress. KNEC will also adopt an eight-level performance scale, classifying learners as Exceeding Expectation, Meeting Expectation, Approaching Expectation, or Below Expectation. Assessment tools will be adapted for learners with visual, hearing, or physical impairments. "The council will manage moderation, marking, and national reporting of the summative assessment, which will guide placement into tertiary institutions, technical colleges, and the job market," the document reads. The Ministry will carry out a digital mapping exercise through NEMIS to ensure all Senior Schools are visible and categorised by the pathways offered. The mapping will help parents and learners make informed choices during placement. "All Senior Schools shall be mapped and re-registered according to their specialization. This mapping will be publicly accessible," the document notes. Schools will also be required to develop disability-inclusive designs and meet health and safety standards as outlined in the Safety Standards Manual for Schools. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will lead a national retraining and redeployment exercise to ensure adequate staffing for the new curriculum. Each Senior School teacher will handle a minimum of 27 lessons per week and must teach at least two subjects in their area of specialization. "Deployment of teachers will be based on their specialization and the pathway offered by each school," the guidelines read. School administrators will have lower teaching loads to allow for leadership duties, while the TSC will conduct audits to ensure optimal staffing levels. Teachers will also undergo refresher training on competency-based pedagogy, formative assessment, and guidance for learners in career pathways. Students will also be trained in digital literacy and ICT integration, which will be a requirement across all pathways. Senior Schools will be required to form partnerships with TVET institutions, universities, and industries to allow learners to access specialized training, mentorship, and shared facilities. "Schools offering technical and vocational subjects are encouraged to collaborate with nearby TVET institutions for practical learning and exposure," reads the document. And schools will be required to maintain separate bank accounts for tuition, operations, and infrastructure development, and will be subjected to internal and external audits. Each institution will be required to develop a five-year strategic plan outlining financial priorities, staffing, and infrastructure needs. Guidance and counselling departments will also be strengthened to support learners' academic, emotional, and career decisions.

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