By Amoto Ndiewo
Claims of bribery have rocked form one transfer exercise with some parents accusing principals of allegedly demanding as much as Sh100, 000 for a slot in some prime schools.
The alleged scandal comes hot on the heels of the recent muddled electronic form one selection.
The parents dissatisfied with government’s decision on where their children will proceed to join form one are opting for transfers, but at a price. Some are reportedly parting with hefty bribe a source.
Interviews with parents indicated some school heads were seeking money to facilitate the process of transfers. Two parents from Garissa allege to have parted cash in a bid to have their children join a leading national school.
The two parents told the Education News their children had scored 391 points but were admitted to extra county schools in Garissa. This they found to be inappropriate. So the family opted for a better school which allegedly cost them Sh100,000 to get admission letter.
Another parent in Garissa whose daughter scored 373 marks claimed he parted with Sh10, 000 to get a school after a merry go round in over five schools out of the county.
A parent in Madogo said she visited several top schools in Nairobi and finally paid Sh6, 000 for booking a vacancy. On asking if the money was refundable she was told it wasn’t and neither did guarantee admission.
Kenya Parents Association chair Nicholas Maiyo admitted having received several complaints from frustrated parents.
“We have dually sent these messages to the Ministry of Education, for action but they are yet to react, ’’ stated Maiyo.
Unlike the just ended form one electronic system which ended up being muddled with complaints, the transfers have bothered parents. “They are at the discretion of head teachers who later forward the request to the Ministry of Education for approval,” he added.
The Ministry of Education is yet to give the public a final updated approved transfers.
The chairman of Kenya Secondary School Heads Association Indumuli Kahi who denied receiving any parents’ complaint said dissatisfied parents continue flocking secondary schools in search of new places for their children.
“ It is just crazy parents refuse to believe when principals tell them their schools are full, but parents keep knocking,’’ said Garissa KESSHA Chair Mohamud Dubat who sympathised with both the parents and principals.
‘’It is a catch 22 situation and the frustrated parents can say anything,’’ said Dubat who shares similar problems since his school Fafi Girls does well in KSCE.
