Fees for national schools soar amid complaints

Education cabinet secretary Jacob Kaimenyi, parents have complained to him about high fees.

By ISAAC MESO

NAIROBI, KENYA: Parents have had to dig deeper into their pockets as fees for nationals schools soar to between Sh70,000 and Sh80,000 per year.

Most secondary schools across the country have started admitting Form One students, this being as early as Monday.

But this comes against the backdrop of complaints raised by parents over the radical increment of school fees.

Speaking to The Standard, George Onyango, a parent who had just enrolled his daughter at Nairobi’s Pangani Girls High School disclosed that the fee for this term alone was Sh48,000.

“Despite the school fees being high, I am glad my daughter has got the chance to study in one of the top schools in the country,” said the elated parent.

Andrew Nyongesa, another parent whose daughter was admitted to the same school said the fees being charged by most secondary schools were unaffordable to many parents and this might lock out many students.

“We don’t see the reason why we should be paying these amounts yet the government had promised to subsidise fees for us,” he said.

Nyongesa called upon the Government, through the Education ministry, to consider the plight of bright but poor students who lacked the financial muscle to pursue their secondary education.

John Kiptarus, a father of four, expressed resentment over the high fees he is expected to meet in preparation for his daughter’s enrollment to secondary school.

His daughter has been given a chance to advance her education at AIC Moi Kapsowar, a public national school in Elgeyo/Marakwet County. “The figures highlighted on the fee structure are outrageous. I’m worried that I may not raise the required amount for my daughter to access the much anticipated education,” he said.

Kiptarus has to pay Sh62,000 for fees, besides other expenses.