By Barry Kemboi
A new school uniforms guideline is being developed by the Ministry of Education to end exploitation of parents by unscrupulous principals.
Permanent Secretary Kipsang Belio said the Government has been forced to step in as the cost of school uniforms has continued to skyrocket unabated.
The PS noted that his ministry was aware that in many schools, heads were conspiring with uniform distributors to the extent that the costs were almost equivalent to school fees.
Belio was speaking at Meteitei Boys High school in Nandi County during a thanks -giving ceremony and to award top 2017 KCSE candidates from the institution.
The PS also dismissed errors in Government supplied textbooks saying the errors have been there and for a good teacher they do correction and move on.
“We didn’t change anything in the printing, what we simply did was to directly pay the same printer and distribute books directly to schools avoiding middlemen and book stores”, Belio added.
He asserted that despite the “minor” issues, the direction the government had taken were irreversible and that those who have been using book stores as a conduit had come to an end.
While assuring parents that day schools are free, he said any additional levies including lunch for the students must be negotiated and a middle ground reached.
“No child should miss class for not paying for lunch, one should have a way of solving such including having the affected child walk home if they live near the school,” he said.
The PS who was flanked by Tinderet MP Julius Meli and former Kipkelion East MP Jackson Rono said the duty of jubilee administration was to make education accessible and compulsory.
Belio also warned heads and principal of dire consequences if they fail to heed the Government directive to have their school buses painted yellow.
“Any school driver should not attempt to drive a school vehicle not painted yellow. You’ll be arrested as the police have direct order to impound all school vehicles not adhering to the new rule”, said the PS.
“What we need is for police to notify us of such schools and take necessary disciplinary action even if it’s a private school as long as it’s used to transport Kenyan school going children.” the P.S added.
