Murang'a Women Representative Sabina Chege has tabled a motion in parliament which seeks to lift the ban on holiday tuition.
The ban which was put in place by Interior CS Fred Matiang' i in 2013 when he was the Education CS, falls under the Basic Education Act of 2013 which is the law that governs operations in primary and secondary schools in Kenya.
If the proposal to amend the Act goes through, parents and teachers will have to commit to a written agreement that will then allow schools to conduct holiday tuition.
The catch, however, is that the tuition exercise will be limited to students who are attested to be experiencing learning difficulties intending to enable them to bridge the gap and catch up with other students once the regular school timetable resumes.
Also with it is a new proposal that students could attend holiday tuition to better their extra-curricular skills.
The idea has received backing from several key quarters, most notably the Education committee of the National Assembly which is headed by Bomet Senator Dr. Andrew Langat, deputized by Uasin Gishu Senator Prof Margaret Kamar.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Secretary-General Akelo Misori was also upbeat about the move.
"It is a timely proposal to help develop the students' abilities in the new curriculum given the proposal extends tuition to co-curricular activities," he is quoted by The Star.
On Tuesday, Kenya Private Schools Association head Peter Ndolo expressed his confidence with the motion, saying that it would help a lot of slow learners to catch up with the rest of the students.
Psychiatrist and former Mathari Hospital head Njagi Kumantha, however, cautioned legislators against the proposal, insisting that there needed to be a healthy balance between work and rest. Kumatha says the balance is only achieved through school holidays.
The Basic Education Act 2013 stipulates that a person who goes against the law and conducts tuition risks a fine not exceeding Sh100,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or both.
