- The National Parents Association boss said parents are currently going through a hard time with the global economic crisis.
- Machogu said some schools are demanding new school uniforms for the Grade 7 learners.
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The National Parents Association has hailed the Ministry of Education for allowing Junior Secondary School learners to report to school with their primary school uniforms.
NPA chairperson Silas Obuhatsa said the government took into consideration the fact that most parents are having a hard time with the tough economic challenges the country is in.
"National Parents Association has highly lauded the government of President William Samoei Ruto for considering the harsh economic time that more than 15 million parents are going through and allowing them to send their children to Junior Secondary school in primary school uniforms," Obuhatsa said.
The NPA boss said parents are currently going through a hard time with the global economic crisis.
He said the directive by the government is big news and leaves the parents a happy lot.
"Education is the most important thing that any good government can give to its youth because of tomorrow's future. It's clear that President Ruto's government values parents of this country highly," he said.
Further, the NPA boss urged school heads to consider involving parents in any issues touching on extra levies charges.
He said parents are worried that some school heads might increase fees privately without the involvement of parents and express authority from the government.
"It's true as the National Parents Association we understand well that running schools without money is hard and parents have a role to play in supporting schools. However, as parents' leadership we urge principals to always work closely with parents on matters of school management," Obuhatsa said.
On Friday, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu warned Junior Secondary Schools against charging parents extra levies outside the government fee structure.
The CS said the ministry is already receiving reports of some learning institutions charging parents extra levies.
Basic education learning institutions opened for the First Term on Monday, January 8.
"Since the opening day, the Ministry of Education has received several reports that some Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) are charging levies on the pretext of expanding infrastructure to accommodate learners joining Grade 8 in 2024," Machogu said.
Machogu said other schools are demanding new school uniforms for the Grade 7 learners.
To ensure smooth learning at the JSS level, Machogu directed all 1,282,574 candidates who sat the 2023 Kenya Primary Schools Education Assessment(KPSEA) be allowed to join Grade 7 in the Junior Secondary Schools hosted by their respective primary schools where they attended Grade 1-6.
The CS said Grade 7 learners should utilise the classrooms that were used by the current Grade 8 learners in 2023.
" Grade 7 learners should be allowed to attend school in uniforms that they used while in Grade 6 in 2023 as parents and guardians make efforts to buy new outfits for the JSS," Machogu said.