Magoha warns heads against sending students home over fees

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has told secondary school heads not to send students home for lack of fees.

Speaking in Machakos on Tuesday, Prof Magoha said it is against government policy to send a child who has made it to Form One home for lack of fees.

He further warned parents not to keep their children home for lack of fees, saying such parents would be arrested and arraigned in court once identified.

The CS added that in this age, parents do not need to worry about school fees, saying the government was determined to ensure all children get a secondary school education.

While commenting on insecurity in the north-eastern region, which has seen teachers withdrawn from schools by their employer, Magoha said the government is ready to offer adequate security for personnel in the area.

Three teachers were killed by suspected terrorists in Garissa early this week. 

"It is very unfortunate that innocent lives were lost in Garissa," said Magoha.

"We cannot allow criminals to determine where our civil servants will work."

He urged residents in north-eastern Kenya to help the government fight terrorism so that their children can stay in school.

The CS also praised teachers at Machakos Boys High School who have started contributing Sh200 from their salaries into a kitty that will help needy students stay in school despite fee challenges.