Magoha Warn Principals Not To Turn Away Form One Students Because Of Fees.
As students prepare to enter Form One on May 3, Magoha has warned principals not to turn away students because of fees.
He directed schools to follow the fee guidelines, which show how much parents must pay for each category of school.
“People have lost jobs due to Covid-19. If somebody comes with half the fees take it and admit the child, then arrange for the remaining fees to be paid,” said the CS. He also instructed principals to avoid listing unnecessary items for parents to purchase.
Magoha asked parents to pay only the fees set by the ministry and to report any cases where a student is turned away for failing to pay the extra fees some school heads charge or other levies to the nearest education office.
At the same time, Magoha challenged parents and guardians to take their responsibilities seriously by ensuring prompt payment of boarding school fees.
“I urge members of the public to report any cases of learners who fail to join Form One. We will mount a nationwide monitoring exercise to ensure Form One students join the schools they were selected to and that fee guidelines are strictly adhered to,” said the CS.
At the same time, Magoha urged well-wishers and philanthropists who want to help children attend boarding schools to consider covering the costs of non-tuition-related expenses like school uniforms and personal effects for needy students.
According to the CS, Sh62 billion has been released under Free Day Secondary Education in this fiscal year alone.
“We have cut the cost of secondary education by 75 per cent and even those in boarding are only required to pay money for feeding and a few other things because the capitation money is remitted,” said Magoha.
The most difficult challenge the ministry may face is ensuring that all candidates enroll in secondary school and do not drop out.
Prof Magoha mentioned the effects of insecurity in some parts of the country, teenage pregnancies, long distances to school, and poverty, which has been exacerbated by Covid-19.
“I direct officials to file accurate daily returns on the status of reporting to schools to ensure we rely on data and evidence as we track those candidates who, for one reason or the other, will lag behind during the reporting period,” said the CS.
Prof Magoha stated that insufficient capacity in specific counties presents a challenge during placement.
He singled out Nairobi, Kajiado, Narok, and Mombasa as counties with a high number of applicants but limited capacity to absorb them.
726,311 students will be accommodated in sub-county schools, the majority of which are day schools.
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Prof Magoha praised St. Albert Ulanda Girls and Sironga Girls schools for developing adequate capacity.
“These schools went out of their way to expand capacity in support of 100 per cent transition. For instance, Ulanda has 17 streams and the Teachers Service Commission will work with such schools to ensure there are enough teachers,” said Prof Magoha.
Magoha Warn Principals Not To Turn Away Form One Students Because Of Fees
