Blame middle class for school fees hike

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has made good his intention to enforce school fees guidelines put in place by his predecessor Jacob Kaimenyi.

For the better part of last week, a memo authored by the Teachers Service Commission was circulating on social media indicating that any principal found flouting the regulations will face disciplinary action. Parents will, however, be waiting with bated breath to see what schools will give as fee structure given that such directives and warnings have in the past been ignored.

But even as Dr Matiang'i talks tough on the need by school managers to abide by the fee guidelines, it must be understood that middle class parents are partly to blame for exorbitant fees charged in secondary schools.

Boards of management which mostly comprise of elite members of the community connive with middle class parents to trap poor parents into paying higher school fees. During PTA meetings, one parent rises to make a proposal on the need to hike fees and he is swiftly seconded by another. Sooner or later the entire gathering affirms the position as the voice of poor parents is drowned.