Schools Defy Magoha's Fees Order, Sends Students Home

  • By Imran Otieno on 20 October 2020 - 8:21 pm
    An image of Magoha
    Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha (left) Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang (right) and KCB Group chief executive officer Joshua Oigara (behind) touring Olympic Primary School in Kibera on Monday 12 October 2020.
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  • A number of schools across the country have sent students home for failing to pay fees despite Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha issuing an order on the matter.

    Magoha has incessantly asked schools to bare with parents after Covid-19 ravaged the economy, rendering many jobless and disrupting their businesses.

    A section of schools have however failed to heed the order and have begun sending students home a week after Grade 4, Class 8 and Form 4 candidates reported back to school.

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    File image of a congested classroom in Kenya
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    Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a guardian who sought anonymity revealed that he was asked to clear school fees or else the child will be sent home.

    "I received a call from my nephew, a Form Four candidate whom I am responsible for, and he informed me that they will be sent home on Wednesday, October 21, for school fees.

    "The headteacher had told them that school has no money, and those with particularly huge fee balances will have to proceed home to get money," he explained.

    Francis Kibira Muthoni, a parent at Kianderi Girls Secondary School in Murang’a County is lamenting after his daughter was twice sent home for fees.

    The daughter had also not paid Ksh8,000 feeding fees required by the school.

    Kibira has had to spend almost the same amount money on her daughter's transport in the same time span, something that has left him wondering what to do.

    "I sent her with my elder sister and spent Ksh3,000 on transport and the school refused to admit the student. Later that week, I contacted the teacher through text and she told me to bring the child to school the following Monday," he added.

    A number of schools across the country are taking advantage of the assessment exams that are set to commence on Wednesday, October 21, to send students home.

    The teachers believe that parents will be forced to pay as most would not want their children to miss the tests.

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    Pupils attend a parade at a primary school in Kenya
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