
Ministry Finally Acts on School Heads, Cracks Down Uniform Cartels
In a significant development, the Ministry of Education has taken action against school heads who enforce the purchase of school uniforms from specific dealers or within the school premises.
This move comes as a relief to parents who have long complained about the exorbitant costs associated with school uniforms.
The Education Ministry has declared that the practice of prescribing uniform dealers is illegal and that heads who continue to engage in such actions will face legal consequences.
Principal Secretary of Basic Education, Belio Kipsang, emphasized in a letter to school heads and education directors that parents have the freedom to purchase uniforms and personal effects from outlets of their choice.
Kipsang cited the Basic Education Act and the Basic Education Regulation 2015, which clearly state that no institution should prescribe a specific supplier for school uniforms or other materials.
The Ministry intends to process the names of non-compliant schools for appropriate action within the bounds of the law.
Exploitative Practices and Outrage:
Parents have long voiced concerns about headteachers forcing them to buy uniforms at inflated prices from specific shops, often connected to the school authorities themselves.
Examples of price discrepancies were cited, with parents claiming they were required to purchase items such as trousers and shirts at significantly higher prices compared to the open market.
This recent crackdown on uniform practices may mark the beginning of broader reforms regarding school uniforms.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba proposed reforms that would standardize the color, quality, pricing, and uniformity of school uniforms within the same county.
She argued that schools had become commercial centers and called for clear standards to alleviate the financial burden on parents.
Competition Authority’s Involvement:
The Competition Authority has previously cautioned schools against recommending specific outlets for parents to purchase uniforms.
The authority emphasized that parents should be free to buy uniforms from their preferred shops as long as the uniforms meet the prescribed standards set by the respective schools.
Efforts to address the issue of school uniforms have been made in the past.
The findings of a task force chaired by Dr. Kilemi Mwiria proposed measures to lower the cost of secondary education, including the elimination of unnecessary levies and limiting school uniforms to essential elements.
However, these recommendations were not implemented, leading to criticism of past Cabinet Secretaries and officials for failing to act on the task force’s findings.
Ministry Finally Acts on School Heads, Cracks Down Uniform Cartels