By Staff Reporter
Kenya Private School Association (KPSA) has urged private school proprietors to give parents flexible fee payments plan for this and next term in the ongoing phase reopening of schools.
In a statement dated 8th October 2020, the Association’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Peter Ndoro asked private schools owners to consider giving parents flexible school fees payment terms.
“Given the challenges we are facing, private schools should consider giving parents flexible school fees payment terms considering the economy that is currently in limbo as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Ndoro in a statement.
He further added that participating in online classes by some private institutions during the pandemic period after the closure of schools in March 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 and was to be optional.” reads the statement.
In the earlier report, some private schools had pegged parents to clear their second term fees in full when schools reopen, while at the same time other institutions reportedly asked parents to pay for virtual learning programmes that their children were enrolled in during the pandemic, with most schools asking parent to pay Sh10, 000, a battle that ended in court.
Ndoro further added that irrespective of the availability of space, all private schools should strictly adhere to reopening of Grade 4, STD 8 and Form 4 for the start of second term, and wait for the announcement on the reopening of other classes by the government.
He, however, urged private schools to continue putting in place the required measures to safely accommodate learners for the other classes in anticipation of the pronouncement on reopening.
“The protocols for reopening of schools as outlined in the guidelines should be well understood and strictly implemented for the safety of learners,” reads the statement.
Since private schools depend entirely on school fees paid by parents, Ndoro urged the government to expedite the release of Sh7 million state loans which was meant to cushion the private schools from financial crisis.
“Private schools in Kenya depend entirely on school fees paid by parents when their children are in session school for all their operational support. Without school fees then private schools cannot survive,” reads the statement.
Mr. William Mulema, head teacher at Jonathan Gloag Academy Nairobi confirmed to Education News in the recent interviews that they have given a five per cent discount to their parents on fee paid for every pupil.
