A lobby group has raised alarm over what it calls a systematic collapse of Kenya’s education sector as schools prepare to reopen for the third term on Monday, August 25, 2025. The Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) says corruption, chronic underfunding, and the widespread charging of illegal levies are threatening access and quality in education.
The lobby cites findings from a nationwide survey which showed that nine out of ten public schools are charging admission fees ranging between Sh500 and Sh25, 000. These charges, often collected without receipts, violate the constitutional right to free basic education. The group notes that many learners sent home for failure to pay do not return, even after partial payments, raising fears of a growing dropout crisis.
At the center of the problem, according to EBWG, is delayed and inadequate government funding. The current capitation rates stand at Sh1, 420 for primary schools, Sh15, 042 for junior secondary schools, and Sh22, 244 for senior secondary schools. The group argues that these allocations do not reflect the actual cost of providing quality education and that delays in disbursement have left schools struggling, forcing parents to bear the weight through unlawful charges. This has created what the group describes as a culture of impunity.
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The lobby is demanding urgent intervention from Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba. They want him to issue binding circulars with penalties for administrators who impose illegal levies. They also propose real-time monitoring of school accounts, transparent reporting of all transactions and mechanisms to refund families forced to pay unlawful fees. EBWG insists that all school funds must be audited and subjected to strict oversight through quarterly monitoring and evaluation reports.
Beyond the issue of funding, the lobby has raised concerns about safety in schools. It pointed to the deadly fire at Endarasha Hillside Academy, which claimed 21 young lives, as an example of systemic negligence. According to the group, many schools are operating without mandatory safety audits, and funds meant for safety equipment are often misappropriated. EBWG wants all schools subjected to regular safety audits, with the results made public and strict enforcement of safety regulations to protect learners.
The concerns were raised during the National Education Reforms Stakeholders’ Conference, which was attended by civil society groups and policy experts but largely ignored by legislators. EBWG’s Policy and Strategy Adviser Boaz Waruku said the discussions focused on practical solutions to the most pressing challenges. Among the key issues highlighted were financing gaps, illegal levies, student and teacher safety, and pre-primary education.
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The group also criticized the slow implementation of recommendations made by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER), which was established by President William Ruto. EBWG wants the President to issue a comprehensive status report on the progress of the reforms and to provide clarity on the actual cost of rolling out the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
As schools prepare to reopen, EBWG has outlined urgent steps the government must take to avert further crisis. These include timely release of capitation funds, strict enforcement of transparent fee structures, quarterly monitoring of school finances and the unconditional readmission of learners turned away for non-payment. The lobby argues that only firm action and accountability will restore public confidence in the education sector.
Cabinet Secretary Ogamba has previously warned school administrators against introducing unauthorized levies and instructed field officers to enforce compliance. He has also assured the public that learners should not be sent home over fee arrears, promising that the government will release the necessary funds. Reports from the Ministry of Education indicate that preparations are underway for the release of capitation money ahead of reopening.
By Benedict Aoya
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