Schools Defy Machogu’s Directive, Makes Own Rules Before Admission
Admission to Form One in secondary schools on Monday, February 6, caused a controversy as school principals went against the Ministry of Education’s directives regarding the process.
Many parents around the country expressed their frustration with the new, but costly, conditions imposed by the school principals.
According to reports, these school principals were still forcing parents to purchase uniforms or books from specific shops within the school or from designated suppliers, in opposition to the Education Cabinet Secretary, Ezekiel Machogu’s previous directives.
This behavior caused a significant financial burden on parents, who were already struggling with the rising cost of living.
Libareta Mutitu, who accompanied his son for admission, stated that the situation was especially difficult for farmers who are also parents, as they did not have a good harvest due to poor rains.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu and Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria issued a statement on January 24, warning school principals against coercing parents to buy uniforms and other items within the academic institutions.
They emphasized that parents have the right to buy uniforms and other items from their preferred marketplaces.
Daily Nation and Citizen TV conducted an investigation and found that several schools were charging around Ksh22,000 for uniforms, books, and mattresses that were purchased from the schools themselves.
The invitation letters to various national schools also revealed that basic items such as ties were being sold for Ksh400 to Ksh700, while a tracksuit was being sold for Ksh2,200 in the school and only Ksh1,500 in shops outside the academic institutions.
In addition to purchasing the required items, parents were also expected to clear the first-term fees for their children’s admission.
The Education Cabinet Secretary has announced that the government is working to ensure a 100% transition of all students who passed the Kenya Certificate for Primary Education in 2022.
This year, over 1.2 million children sat the Kenya Certificate for Primary Education and have been placed in secondary schools across the country.
Schools Defy Machogu’s Directive, Makes Own Rules Before Admission