Schools Face Crisis After Mid-Term Break - Headteachers Warn Magoha

Education CS George Magoha releasing KCPE 2020 exams at Mitihani house in Nairobi
Education CS George Magoha releasing KCPE 2020 exams at Mitihani house in Nairobi
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School heads have raised concerns over Education CS George Magoha's leniency to parents over fee payment, arguing that the education sector is at risk of facing a crisis. 

Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Chairman Kahi Indimuli - on Friday, June 4 - asked Magoha to reconsider his stance especially as students returned from the mid-term break. 

He warned that schools were facing financial constraints and wanted parents to be pushed to settle their arrears. The institutions, he lamented, cannot be managed appropriately as headteachers are struggling to offset dents. 

"Parents must take their responsibilities and clear the pending fee balances to enable school heads to effectively manage and run schools.

CS Magoha supervising KCSE exams at St Pauls Agenga School in Migori County on March 26, 2021.
CS Magoha supervising KCSE exams at St Pauls Agenga School in Migori County on March 26, 2021.
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"Schools are only having a few percent of parents clearing the fees balances with the largest percentage failing to clear while others send their children to school without fees," Indimuli complained. 

Magoha has a number of times cautioned schools from charging extra fees for raising school fees. He asked headteachers to allow students to learn without interference. 

The CS in March 2021, released a Ksh15 billion capitation fee for students and pledged to ensure schools get more fundings. 

Headteachers, however, complained that the amount was less and couldn't meet all their needs. 

Meanwhile, parents also voiced their frustration with Magoha's mid-term break directive, arguing that the short holiday was unnecessary considering that schools will close on July 16, two weeks after the break. 

On July 26, 2021, all learners will start their first term for the 2021 school calendar. The term will end on October 1, 2021. 

Students will rest for nearly 10 days before they begin the second term from October 11 to December 23, 2021. Headteachers defended Magoha stating that the breaks were necessary due to the crash program. 

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Kenyan school girls at an event in 2018
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