EACC Goes After Principals Charging Parents Ksh150K for Form One Admissions
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has initiated investigations into allegations of principals extorting money from parents in exchange for Form One admission letters. Numerous complaints from concerned parents prompted the anti-graft commission to take action.
EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi, addressing the media, revealed instances where principals were reportedly demanding varying amounts, ranging from Ksh10,000 to Ksh150,000, depending on the school’s level and the extent of the principal’s greed.
Ngumbi urged parents to report any incidents of such demands by school principals and emphasized the need to expose corruption within the education sector.
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Ngumbi expressed concern about the emergence of principals among corrupt individuals and highlighted the inappropriateness and immorality of such practices. He called on parents to provide information about any principal or person involved in soliciting or accepting bribes.
The EACC spokesperson disclosed that the commission was actively investigating a principal from a prominent girls’ school. Form One students are expected to commence classes on Monday, January 15.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu confirmed this admission date while releasing the 2024 Form One selection and placement results at Lenana School in Nairobi on December 18.
Machogu emphasized the importance of authenticating admission letters by presenting them to the head teacher of the primary school where the KCPE Examination was taken. Additionally, he directed regional and county education directors to ensure that school principals adhere to the Ministry of Education’s stipulated levies and refrain from imposing additional charges on parents.
As schools prepare to resume next week, parents are grappling with various challenges, including increased transportation costs, the rising cost of living, illegal fees, and the need to purchase school supplies.
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The reopening will see a surge of 1.4 million learners joining Form One, putting additional strain on already stretched secondary school facilities. However, this influx marks the final year of such high admissions due to the impending end of Form One admissions next year following the collapse of the 8-4-4 system in primary schools.
Parents are confronted with the harsh reality of the escalating cost of education amidst an economic downturn. Silas Obuhatsa, the National Parents Association chairman, highlighted the struggle many parents will face in meeting the demands of increased fees, school supplies, and other expenses. With the commencement of the new academic year, parents are required to purchase dictionaries, set books, extra uniforms, and revision books.
The situation is further complicated by unclear fee structures in boarding schools, where some school heads impose unchecked levies, leading to a significant rise in tuition fees. These additional levies for remedial classes, teacher motivation programs, examination fees, and infrastructure, though prohibited by the government, continue to be imposed by certain school heads.
The government recently announced the release of over Sh31 billion of the Sh60 billion allocated for school capitation. While this is welcomed by school heads, it falls short of addressing the socio-economic challenges faced. Schools have recently resorted to sending learners home due to unpaid fees, putting both school heads and parents in a challenging position.
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Kahi Indimuli, the outgoing chairman of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association, urged parents unable to pay fees in full to engage with school managements to prevent disruptions in school operations. The economic strain has created difficulties for both parents and schools, emphasizing the need for arrangements to ensure fees are paid.
The recent termination of the Edu-Afya comprehensive medical insurance for secondary school students adds to the uncertainty, posing potential health risks to millions of students. The decision, effective December 31, leaves parents and educators seeking alternatives amid concerns about its impact on students’ well-being.
Adopted in May 2018, the cover is reviewed annually through an agreement between the Education Ministry and the National Hospital Insurance Fund.
EACC Goes After Principals Charging Parents Ksh150K for Form One Admissions
