By Wasike Elvis
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Prof. George Magoha now wants parents to report principals sending students home over pending school fees.
Speaking to the press after commissioning five Competence Based Curriculum (CBC) classrooms at Uasin Gishu High School in Eldoret, Prof. Magoha said stern action will be taken against such principals.
“I want to call upon parents across the country to report any Secondary school Principal sending children home because this is wrong. We will discipline them accordingly,” said the CS.
He said that due to the harsh economic times, Principals should engage parents and agree on a formula that suits both parties.
“Parents should be allowed to pay fees in bits since we are living in hard economic times. We are aware that due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, many parents were rendered jobless and it has been hard to pay fees for their children,” he said.
Furthermore, Prof. Magoha warned Principals against charging extra fees which are not in accordance with the Ministry of Education guidelines.
“As per the Ministry of Education guidelines, parents are supposed to pay Sh 45,000 for National Schools, Ksh.35,000 for Extra-county schools while Day schools are free of charge. Any principal doing contrary should be reported,” added Prof. Magoha.
The no-nonsense CS called on the incoming government to start training teachers early for the CBC curriculum.
“The incoming government must as a matter of duty train teachers for Grade 9 starting early next year. This will ensure that we have a good transition,” he said.
