Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu directed all secondary schools to allow form one students to report with uniforms they used in primary schools.
Speaking at St Georges Girls' High School in Nairobi on Monday, February 6, Machogu warned principals against pushing parents to buy uniforms during admission.
He instructed the school heads to make arrangements with the caregivers on how they can buy the uniforms in the course of the term instead of sending students home.
"We made it clear that where parents are not able to buy immediately, they are given time such that the students are allowed to report with the uniform as parents make arrangements of procuring them," Machogu stated.
His directive came amid concerns by parents on the high cost of uniforms, especially where schools demanded that they are bought from specific shops.
The CS also dismissed reports that the government had increased school fees for the new academic year. He added that the Ministry of Education provided parents with flexible payment plans.
"I want to make it clear that the govt has not increased school fees. The amount is the same as it was set six years ago by the Kilemi Mwiria task force which capped fees for national and extra-county schools at Ksh53,455.
"The amount for county secondary schools is Ksh45,000 and we are asking that that money is not paid in one go. The amount is split into three terms," Machogu explained.
In addition, the Education boss confirmed that the government already released a capitation for secondary schools, Ksh22,244 per student.
He warned school heads against demanding any extra funds from parents promising stern action. Meanwhile, the government has already disbursed Ksh4 billion to primary schools.
Nonetheless, Machogu intimated that the Ministry was yet to disburse money for the junior secondary schools (JSSs) as it was waiting on the final figure on the enrollment numbers.
