Kilimbini Primary School parents in Mukaa, Makueni county, are up in arms over what they term mismanagement and illegal levies charged by the school’s administration.
More than 200 parents on Wednesday demonstrated against the public school's management, demanding the transfer of head teacher Bernard Mukelelya, his deputy and senior teacher.
They threatened to close down the school if no intervention was done by relevant authorities, including the said transfers.
The school is located in Mukaa subcounty, Kilome constituency.
The parents claimed the administration is forcing them to pay Sh6,300 in levies, and that they could not account for it despite the school's performance worsening.
They said most of their children in the school are always being sent home for the levies, and the children end up staying at home since the situation is unbearable.
The parents said the tough economic situation has hit them, hence they are unable to afford the levies.
Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang in February cautioned schools against collecting ‘illegal levies’.
“The Ministry of Education has recently released guidelines for the implementation of Junior Secondary Education,” he said.
“The Government has also allocated a capitation grant of Sh15,000 per child.”
However, the Ministry continues to receive complaints from aggrieved parents or guardians and other stakeholders on the unauthorised levies imposed by head teachers.
These include admission fees, purchase of desks and lunch money “in complete contravention of the government directives,” the letter read in part.
It was copied to regional directors of education, county directors and sub county directors of education.
“Your attention is drawn to regulation 44 of the Basic Education Act, 2013,” the PS said in the letter.
“It states that ‘No public school or institution shall issue alternative fees structure other than those approved by the Cabinet Secretary.”
When reached by the Star on the phone yesterday, Mukelelya declined to comment on the claims.
“Well, I’m not in a position to discuss that one with you. I’m not supposed to do that, haiwezekani,” the school head teacher said before he hang up.
Apart from the levies, which the parents termed outlawed, they cited laxity among teachers and lack of consultation by the administration in decision-making.
They also complained of poor infrastructure and an unfriendly school environment, which they said is toxic for their children's learning.
"I'm a parent in this school. We have lots of problems as parents," a parent told the Star during the demonstrations.
They declined to be mentioned, saying it would make their children be victimised by the teachers.
"We pay Sh500 for each child's admission," the parent said. "A fee of Sh2,600 per term, Sh1,500 for desks, Sh1,200 for tuition and Sh500 termly fee, all totalling Sh6,300."
The parents said the head teacher, deputy and a senior teacher never involved them in hiring three Board of Governors teachers, yet they were forced to contribute towards their monthly salaries of Sh14,000 each.
"We also contribute money for paying the watchman, electricity and water," she said.
The parents asked President William Ruto's administration to intervene before they take matters into their hands.
"We are pleading with Ruto's administration, hear our plight," another parent said.
"If not, we will on Tuesday close down this school."
They demanded that the three teachers be removed, claiming they had led to the school’s stagnation in all spheres despite it being established in 2008 by the then Kilome MP Harun Mwau.
“The school does not have enough classrooms," one parent said.
"A classroom has been subdivided into two using iron sheets, there is no playing ground and the toilets are in poor condition.
"Our children at times collect water for school usage, and carry lunch to school. We are tired."
They demanded to know whether the school receives capitation funds from the government and how it gets utilised by the administration.
