Parents have complained that some schools are still charging extra levies to admit Form 1 students.
Parents Association chairman Nicholas Maiyo told the Star some schools direct guardians to buy items at specific shops where prices are too high.
The parents have said some of the selected shops are selling items at double prices compared to similar outlets within the same area.
“We have noted that some schools are specifying stores that parents need to buy essentials from. These stores are expensive compared to other shops and we wonder why," Maiyo said.
A parent told the Star about the case of a school in Kakamega that sent them to a shop where items were costlier.
“The admission letter directed parents to buy mattresses and bedding at a certain shop in Mumias. The prices there were higher by around Sh300 per item. We had to leave and purchase the same items at a lower price in Kakamega town,” the parent told the Star on the phone.
Some parents say they are being forced to pay money that is not part of the fee structure and not captured under the guidelines released by the Ministry of Education.
For instance, some schools have been charging up to Sh7,000 for development while others are charging for "motivation".
The association said that they are liaising with the Teachers Service Commission and the Ministry of Education to identify schools that have not lowered Term 1 fees as ordered by the government.
Last week, Education CS George Magoha announced a reduction in secondary school fees due to the short 2021 school calendar.
National schools will charge Sh8,500 less while extra-county and county schools will pay Sh5,500 less.
The directive means national schools will now pay Sh45,054 while the extra-county and county schools will pay Sh35,035.
“TSC gave a warning, and they will investigate those schools that increase fees without sticking to the directives by the Ministry,” he added.
Maiyo also said he had received complaints that some school principals are refusing to take in Form 1 students on the pretext that their marks are low yet the ministry had already placed them in those schools.
On low payment of fees by parents, Maiyo said the cash already released by the government is adequate to run schools for some time, hence principals should be patient.
On Tuesday, the government released Sh14.85 billion to public secondary schools under the capitation programme. A further Sh2.62 billion was released to primary schools.
“Principals are always hard on us but if there’s capitation it becomes a bit easier for us,” he said.
Magoha on June 15 said of 1,179,192 candidates who sat the 2020 KCPE exam 1,171,265 have been placed in secondary schools.
The first term of the 2021-22 academic year has 10 weeks and a one-week holiday as students transit to the second term.
Form 1 students are expected to have uninterrupted learning sessions beginning August 2 to October 1.
Edited by Henry Makori
