The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) has taken up the challenge of sorting out the issue of uniform costs in secondary schools.
Last month, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu and Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang challenged school KESSHA leadership to look into ways of regulating the cost of school uniforms among its members following parents’ complaints.
The association’s chairman Indimuli Kahi has assured parents and the Ministry of Education that the matter will be resolved once and for all.
This is after the association formed a special team to regulate the pricing of uniforms.
“The team comprises KESSHA county and national officials who have agreed that we shall self-regulate as principals so that we continue providing the quality of uniforms that we want our children to wear and make sure they are affordable,” said Indimuli.
The association refuted claims that its members have turned educational institutions into money-minting machines through the selling of uniforms.
He said public schools are also subjected to the public procurement process.
“I know there is a general feeling that we are not doing very well when it comes to uniforms.
There is a proposal that this be taken away from schools because principals are using this as a profit-making venture,” he said
He claimed the challenge is, they have lumped boarding items and uniforms together and the total cost presented as that of uniform.
Indimuli added that the school heads have now agreed on separating boarding items from uniforms to make it clear.
Early this year, Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria said parents have the freedom to buy school items from their preferred suppliers.
By Thuita Jaswant
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