Magoha Prohibits Schools From Requiring Form Ones To Report With Non-Academic Items.
Prof George Magoha, Cabinet Secretary for Education, has warned headteachers against making unreasonable demands on Form One students ahead of their admission on Tuesday, May 3.
Magoha issued a stern warning to school heads when he announced the placement of form one students, accusing them of denying deserving students admission due to random items that are not approved by the ministry.
Exercise books, novels, class readers or set books, mathematical sets, atlases, photocopy papers, and fulscarps are among the items on the list.
Furthermore, the Education Secretary prohibited schools from requiring students to report with non-academic items such as hockey sticks, machetes (pangas), and hoes (jembes).
The hard-talking The move, according to CS, was in line with the government’s mandate to make basic education affordable. He vowed to keep parents from being burdened by unnecessary costs.
“We are committed to ensuring that parents of learners who are joining Form One are not overburdened with unnecessary requirements that increase the cost of education. The idea here is to admit Kenyan child into a public school where secondary school is free,” he stated
Magoha stated that President Uhuru’s government had set aside funds to fund education in public schools and that the expenses for classroom tools would be covered. He also threatened any principal who was caught turning away students because of the items with legal repercussions.
“Principals should therefore exercise precaution when listing requirements as part of the measures to the cost of education. Do not stop the child from going to the school, if you do, I am still the head of this ministry, I will come for you,” Magoha warned.
According to Magoha, the Elimu scholarship program will provide financial assistance to 9,000 students. 4,000 of the scholarships will be allocated to urban informal settlements.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta, having that there was a huge problem in urban slums, 4,000 of the scholarships will be for the less fortunate students in these areas. The other 5,000 will be distributed across the country,” the CS added.
He also stated that students enrolled in boarding schools will be given priority in the awarding of bursaries.
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“Bursaries and scholarships should be given to students admitted to boarding schools since day schooling is free. However, for boarding school well-wishers and philanthropists are encouraged to consider covering costs of other non-tuition related expenses such as school uniforms and personal effects for children who are needy,” he explained.
38,797 students were assigned to national schools, 214,960 to extra-county schools, 258,456 to county schools, 726,311 to sub-county schools, and 2,045 to special needs schools.
Magoha Prohibits Schools From Requiring Form Ones To Report With Non-Academic Items.
