Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu has said there will be no school fees raises in January contrary to what the media has reported.
In his address at the 20th KEPSHA Annual Delegates Conference in Mombasa on November 8, 2023, he clarified his earlier comment denying any intention to increase school fees across the different strata of secondary school.
“The existing rates for boarding schools will remain unchanged, and school administrators are expected to adhere to the prevailing circulars and directives on the matter,” he said.
He further emphasized on the crucial role of foundational learning in a child’s educational journey, pointing out that these early stages provide the essential building blocks for all subsequent learning, knowledge and skills that children acquire through their education.
The CS affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that all children have access to foundational learning as an integral part of basic education.
He pointed out that the Constitution, under Article 53, mandates that basic education is both free and compulsory.
However, he stressed that the government’s focus is not just on making education mandatory for formality’s sake. Instead, it is determined to provide quality education, which is essential to give compulsory education real meaning and relevance.
Machogu emphasized that achieving quality education is a collaborative effort requiring the combined efforts of all stakeholders.
The government, he stated, will create an enabling legal and policy environment to support this endeavour through ongoing reforms.
Additionally, the government will continue to offer support to schools and learners by providing capitation as part of its obligation to uphold the right to free and compulsory basic education.
Highlighting the government’s long-standing commitment, Machogu lauded the Free Primary Education (FPE) programme initiated in 2003.
He explained the current funding levels, saying the government allocates Ksh1,420 per learner for primary education, Ksh15,042 for junior school, and Ksh22,240 for secondary school.
These capitations, he said, if efficiently utilized, are sufficient for the effective operation and management of schools.
By Viola Chepkemoi
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