ANC-nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi has urged school administrations to use infrastructure funds to renovate buildings that have been destroyed by fire.
He said asking parents to pay repair and maintenance fees is punitive.
“Parents are struggling to pay school fees under the tight learning programme, so penalising them due to student unrest is unfair,” the MP said on Sunday.
Osotsi spoke after parents with students at Kakamega High School were each ordered to pay Sh9,823 before their children could be allowed back to the institution.
In a memo dated November 11, the school estimated the cost of rebuilding the burnt infrastructure at Sh12.1 million, cost of double-decker beds at Sh4.1 million, CCTV installation at Sh695,000 and damaged items for 560 students at Sh4.5 million.
The memo indicated that the damage incurred in the school is Sh21,611,360, which has to be shared equally among the 2,200 learners.
Form 4 students reported on Monday, while Form 1 learners will report on Sunday. Forms 2 and 3 students will report on November 23 and 25, respectively.
Osotsi said most parents may not be in a position to pay the amount being demanded.
“We have got learners who are being sponsored and some of them pay fees annually, so where will those kids get the cash?” the MP posed.
Osotsi urged the Ministry of Education to amend the school calendar and resume sporting activities so that they can end this tension.
“The ongoing tension is not all about disciplinary cases in schools but much pressure on learners with short resting time,” he said.
Edited by A.N
