Why hidden costs could derail 100pc transition to high school

Susan Midega, a learner from Vihiga County is almost losing hope of ever joining secondary. Her mother, Violet Kagali, who is a single parent has been unable to raise fees to enable her to join Butere Girls High School where she was called after scoring 385 marks.

"There is nothing as devastating as having a bright child and you aren't able to take them to school. It is also depressing for them when they see their colleagues going to school. My daughter spends most of the day locked in her bedroom," Kagali said.

Daniel Ragira, 15, is another needy case among thousands of top KCPE candidates from poor backgrounds who are on the verge of dropping out of school. He obtained 366 marks in last year's KCPE exam at Kayole North Primary School.

According to the school fees structure, the Sh53,554 required for tuition annually is out of reach for the family.

As children from poor backgrounds remain stuck at home, the Ministry of Education in its last circular warned school principals against charging extra charges.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang said the ministry has been receiving complaints from aggrieved parents, guardians, and other stakeholders on the unauthorised levies imposed by head teachers especially admission fees, purchase of desks and lunch money in complete contravention of government practices and directives.

"In view of the above, you are directed to ensure that no public school charges unauthorised levies such as admission fees, desks, and lunch unless the school has a previously authorised lunch programme for the whole school," warned Dr Kipsang in the circular sent to education directors.

Former Education minister George Magoha once directed the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to send home heads who turn away learners who failed to pay school fees.

"Parents pay tax and their children have a right to get an education. School heads should understand the hard economic situation that Kenyans are facing especially those from poor backgrounds," said Prof Magoha.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu this week while at St George's Secondary School Nairobi, said the government had disbursed Sh16 billion to all public secondary schools to ensure uninterrupted learning.

"The government has released a total of Sh16 billion as capitation funding of which each learner in secondary school is entitled to Sh22,244," he said.

With the release of the capitation funds, Mr Machogu directed principals to keep all learners in school to ensure no class time is lost.

"Parents whose children are enrolled in public schools should not be charged any fees because the government is catering for all tuition costs," he warned.

But the majority of school heads complain the money is yet to hit their accounts. The delay in releasing the capitation has left school administrators in dilemma.

Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KSSHA) national chairman, Kahi Indimuli said due to high inflation and cost of utilities, they are finding it difficult to run schools under shoe-string budgets.

''The government sends us students without money which makes our work difficult to crawl out of the debt crises," Indimuli said, adding that moost principals run schools without depending on the capitation.

"All the schools do not have the same needs. For instance, in some national schools utility bills are very high. Maintaining things like swimming pools is costly and is not factored in the fees," he said.