Government to demote headteachers charging extra fees
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Government unveils a plan to demote headteachers charging extra fees for Junior secondary schools
Government unveils a plan to demote headteachers charging extra fees for Junior secondary schools.
Headteachers in public schools that charge parents for extra fees now run the possibility of being demoted for disobeying Ministry of Education instructions.
Belio Kipsang, the department’s principal secretary, stated on Friday, February 17, that the ministry will take severe measures, up to and including demotion, against any headteachers found to have overcharged parents.
The tough-talking PS described the pattern as egregious “impunity” when testifying before the National Assembly Committee on Education, calling for government action.
He claimed that Ezekiel Machogu, the cabinet secretary for education, has already sent out numerous letters cautioning headteachers against extorting money from parents, particularly those enrolling their students in the recently established Junior Secondary School level.
“You don’t dare the government and get away with it.
“We are going to ensure they do not handle our resources if found culpable. We will rather use their deputies on this matter,” Kipsang noted.
According to the PS, the government had already disbursed the Ksh9.6 billion required to meet the capitation needs for grade seven learners in Junior Secondary School in the first term.
Further, Kipsang committed to allocating funds for the remaining capitation amount in subsequent budget restructuring.
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On their part, members of the Committee led by Chairperson Julius Melly urged the Ministry to iron out conflicting interests with the Teachers Service Commission regarding disciplinary action on culpable teachers.
The committee noted that a disconnect was evident from the cooperation between MoE’s officials and the TSC, which according to them, encouraged headteachers to sustain the extortion with confidence that disciplinary action would take time.
In addition, the MPs urged the Ministry’s officials PS to exercise their authority on rogue teachers amid concerns that the Ministry’s hands were tied in matters concerning demoting or taking disciplinary action on teachers.
In January 2022, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu assured that government would provide capitation for all grade seven learners hence saving parents from the high cost of school fees.
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