The Ministry of Education has warned school heads about collecting unauthorized levies, as learners reported for the 2025 academic year.
Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the government will not entertain any attempts by heads of institutions to impose irregular charges on parents.
The CS told the Star that the field officers had been directed to ensure compliance with the directive amid uproar from parents and demands by school heads for additional levies.
Ogamba said the Ministry of Education officers are instructed to heightened vigilance to ensure no authorized monies are demanded from parents.
The CS said the ministry's circular on fee structures must be adhered to by all heads of institutions with education officials under instructions to enforce the same.
"The government is committed to ensuring that no parent is asked to pay for levies that have not been authorized as provided for,'' Ogamba said.
"The circular on payment of fees must be complied with by every head of institution.''
There has been a growing uproar from parents over instances where some school heads are imposing additional levies that are outside of the formal fee structures.
Such levies include teacher motivation, money for realm papers, budget support, and funds for tuition, contrary to the education ministry regulations.
The regulations require that any additional costs to be borne by parents must first be approved during parents' meetings supervised by the education ministry officials.
The boards of management then submit the proposals to the education ministry for review before a go-ahead is given.
However, many parents have complained that such proposals are never tabled during the annual parent meetings and are arbitrarily imposed during opening days.
Ogamba also warned school heads against sending learners away for fees arrears saying the government is doing all it can to ensure capitation is released to schools in due course.
"No learner should be sent home over fees arrears. The ministry is working closely with the National Treasury to ensure capitation money hits the accounts,'' the CS said.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said on Wednesday that the capitation money will be released to schools by January 31.
"We are working closely with the Ministry of Education to ensure money is released to schools on time and ensure smooth learning,'' Mbadi said in an interview with Nation.
He, however, cautioned that in case the whole amount is not realised, at least half of the Sh48 billion will be available.
CS Ogamba had over the weekend assured schools that the first tranche of the capitation money- Sh48.38 billion- would be released to schools as they opened.
Out of the amount, Sh4.1 billion has been allocated for all public primary schools while Sh15.3 billion is meant for Day Junior Secondary Schools.
A total of Sh28.9 Billion is earmarked for Day Secondary schools ahead of the beginning of the 2025 academic year.
