Teachers To Refund illegal JSS Levies & Face Disciplinary, Government Says
The government has issued a warning to teachers imposing levies on junior secondary school pupils.
According to Uasin Gishu County Director of Education, Mr. Harrison Muriuki, these teachers will be forced to refund the money and face disciplinary action.
The government has directed that pupils joining grade seven are not supposed to pay fees before admission, and pupils are free to join any approved junior secondary school of their choice without any hindrance.
“No parent should be asked to pay for anything or asked to take desks to school so that their child can be admitted, the school’s board of management or head teachers currently acting as junior secondary school principals should not impose any levies on parents,” said the CDE.
If any parent has been asked to pay money to have their child admitted, they are asked to provide the names of such schools so that action can be taken.
Principals charging parents will be forced to refund the money and risk further action for violating the government policy, warned Muriuki.
Despite the efforts of the government to ensure that all pupils transition from primary to secondary school, Muriuki expressed regret that 1190 pupils who were expected to join junior secondary have not reported to school, and 2130 students expected to transition to form one were still at home.
Uasin Gishu county will receive 315 million as capitation for 21,000 junior secondary school pupils, with the government allocating 15,000 for every pupil in junior secondary.
A total of 491 public primary schools and 181 private schools have been approved to offer junior secondary education in Uasin Gishu county.
In a public consultative meeting convened by Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr. Eddyson Nyale, members of the public raised various issues ranging from poor education performance by some schools, cases of insecurity and alcoholism, and the need to increase the number of administrative units to enable easier access to government services.
Nyale directed chiefs and their assistants, village elders, and Nyumba kumi officials to work with the Ministry of Education to ensure that the 1190 pupils expected to join grade seven and 2130 expected to join form one are accounted for and report to school as expected.
He emphasized the importance of consultative meetings for citizens to feel the presence of the government.
During the meeting, various state corporations, semi-autonomous government agencies, and national government departments engaged the community on the services they provide, including the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya University and Colleges Central Placement Services, National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Higher Education Loans Board, and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.
Other institutions present included the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Kenya Power and Lighting Company, and Kenya Fisheries Services, among others.
Teachers To Refund illegal JSS Levies & Face Disciplinary, Government Says