Parents want third term school fees refunded

Kenya National Association of Parents secretary general Musau Ndunda and Genard Nyaga national chairman of parents association address a press conference at Nacico Plaza in Nairobi on 21/9/2015 .They said the government move in disrupting learning in private school and the demand for refund of school fees for the third term was unfounded. PHOTO BY EDWARD KIPLIMO/STANDARD.

Parents have given the Government a one-week ultimatum to reimburse school fees paid for third term.

Kenya National Parents Association (KNPA) threatened to take legal action next week if the money is not returned to parents.

"The Government should issue a circular immediately so that the money is refunded in full, because after the seven-day grace period we shall be moving to court," KNPA Secretary General Musau Ndunda told a press briefing in Nairobi yesterday.

The Industrial and Labour Relations Court last month ordered the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to give the teachers a pay increase of between 50 and 60 per cent spread over four years.

However, President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday evening maintained that the Government has no money to give the increment and called on teachers to resume their duties and end the suffering of millions of students.

Ndunda said the parents support the Government's decision to close the schools because students would not be safe in schools alone.

The association however, expressed concern over it's decision to include private schools in the stalemate.

"We are concerned with the logic behind closing private schools because as far as we are concerned there is no industrial dispute between the proprietors of private schools and their teachers. It's important for the Ministry of Education to publicly tell us exactly why they decided to take such drastic action," noted Ndunda.

They will be seeking to be enjoined in the suit filed by private schools against the Government directive.

Ndunda called on Members of Parliament to return to the house and discuss the matter extensively to offer an amicable solution.

He pointed out that while they are supporting the court ruling to pay teachers, the teachers' performance should reflect the pay they are asking and offer quality education. He also wants the performance of public schools to be measured for maximum productivity.