NAIROBI: Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i kicks off the Form One selection process Thursday as fees outcry shifts to low-cost secondary schools.
Dr Matiang’i will also use the exercise, to be held at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, to spell out new reform measures in the administration of schools aimed at tackling corruption in the admission process and schools’ management.
Parents of children in day schools have raised concern over efforts by some school heads to raise fees to meet the gazetted thresholds.
And those with children in low-cost boarding schools have also lodged complaints over fee hikes by school heads to match the gazetted rates. A 2016 report prepared by a civil society organisation, Elimu Yetu Coalition (EYC), shows that the Government has concentrated efforts in checking fees in “big schools” and ignoring the “small schools”.
“The bulk of students shall be admitted to day schools and more energy should be directed at these schools because they are charging more fees,” reads the report. The organisation’s national coordinator, Janet Muthoni, said based on the complaints received on a toll free line, launched by former Education CS Jacob Kaimenyi day schools should now be the focus. “Most of the schools are day schools and some of them which charged less fees have now set out to revise the figures upwards,” she said.
Mithuri Day Secondary Schools in Laikipia, for instance, increased fees from Sh13,000 to Sh20,300 per year.
In Homa Bay County, Ogande Mixed Day and Boarding Secondary school that charged Sh20,164 annually last year now levies Sh31,264.
EXPECT FAIRNESS
About 7,560 candidates who scored 401 marks and above have been assured slots in the 103 national schools.
Matiang’i, expected to announce the highest number of Form One admissions, said this year’s transition rate from primary to secondary school is set to surpass that of 2014.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers Secretary General Akello Misori and the Kenya National Association of Parents Secretary General Musau Ndunda yesterday said they expect fairness in the exercise.
Mr Misori said all students should be given equal opportunities irrespective of whether they are from public or private schools. “We are for the criteria that gives all our learners equal opportunity without discrimination,” he said.
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