The Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) on October 8, addressed the new fees in privately-owned institutions as the Ministry of Education announced phased re-opening of schools.
In a statement, the KPSA CEO Peter Ndoro directed that private schools consider giving parents flexible school fees payment terms.
He observed that the general Kenyan economy had been depressed and a majority of the economic sectors have been struggling which has consequently affected the parents taking their children back to school.
"The payment terms should be considered on a case by case basis and in a manner that will not compromise the access and provision of quality education in a safe and healthy environment," Ndoro stated.
He further stated that participation in online classes during the pandemic period should not be used in anyway whatsoever to disadvantage any learner.
"As guided by the association in May 2020, online learning initiated by schools was to be treated as a separate programme/ contract from the normal school term programmes/contracts and was to be an optional programme for the learners and their parents," the KPSA CEO stated.
Ndoro directed that irrespective of the availability of space, all private schools should strictly adhere to reopening of the stated levels/ classes and wait for the announcement on the reopening other classes by the Cabinet Secretary.
He added that the association was in support of progressive reopening of schools starting with Grade 4, Class 8 and Form 4 classes of 2020 that would be resuming their in-person learning on October 12, 2020 for their second term of the academic year.
Earlier reports indicated that some private schools, were demanding that the parents settle their second term fees in full when schools reopen.
At the same time, other institutions reportedly asked that parents pay for virtual learning programmes that their children were enrolled in during the pandemic, with most schools pegging the fee at Ksh 15,000.
Ndoro acknowledged that private schools in Kenya could not survive without fees payment as they depended entirely on school fees paid for by parents when their children were in session and in school for all their operational support.
