Headteachers have defied Education CS George Magoha's reduced school fees and hatched tactics to charge extra costs.
Parents detailed that they were asked to pay registration, admission, and development fees before their children were admitted to Form One classes.
The amounts reportedly varied from Ksh5,000 to ksh35,000. School heads argued that the new charges were acknowledged and approved by school boards and parents in their defence.
The parties agreed to raise funds to supplement money issued by the government which they claimed was not enough to cover repairs and construction of new classrooms and dormitories. The refurbishments are aligned with the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for schools to reduce congestion and enforce social distancing.
"We can only get the money during admission of new students. It is difficult to convince parents to pay extra costs after students are admitted," a headteacher who spoke in anonymity stated.
However, Education PS Juma Jwan cautioned that headteachers caught extorting parents would face punitive measures. He urged parents to be on the lookout and report such cases.
"Guidelines are clear on what school management heads should do when they want to raise any additional money. And we cannot leave it open for all schools to charge extra levies," Jwan stated.
Parents and guardians were further urged to attend school board meetings to regulate the charges before they are passed.
Magoha, on June 19 slashed secondary school fees noting that the Covid-19 pandemic had severely affected livelihoods.
Learners in national and extra-county schools in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Thika and Nyeri will pay Ksh45,000 per year from Ksh55,000 annually.
Those in county and sub-county schools in the rest of the country will pay Ksh35,000. Students in special needs schools will pay ksh10,680 annually, Ksh21,920 less than the Ksh32,600 they have been remitting yearly.
