Parents reject new school fees for junior secondary school
Parents reject new school fees for junior secondary school asking president Ruto to honor his campaign promise
Parents reject new school fees for junior secondary school asking president Ruto to honor his campaign promise.
Parents have been advised to prepare themselves to pay school fees for the 1.2 million children transitioning to Grade 7 while the Ministry of Education gets ready for the educational facilities where JSS will be hosted.
Despite their demands for a capitation increase, parents of students joining junior secondary school (JSS) say they are not ready to pay extra tuition.
The head of the National Parents Association, Silas Obuhatsa, advised parents against paying school fees because the Kenya Kwanza administration had pledged free education to Kenyans.
According to him, the JSS roll-out is taking place as Kenyans struggle with a high cost of living and a faltering economy.
“The issue of fees should not apply anywhere because JSS is being domiciled within primary school premises. Children going to Grade 7 is like transiting from Class 6 to Class 7 in the 8-4-4 system,” Mr. Obuhatsa said.
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He noted that 8-4-4 learners in primary school do not pay school fees.
“The government promised education will be free from pre-primary school to university. As parents, we are insisting that the government should be very careful with the issue of paying school fees for JSS learners. We shall not accept to pay school fees for JSS,” he added.
Instead, the association urged the state to increase capitation for both primary and secondary schools.
“At the primary school level, capitation should be increased from Sh1,450 to Sh1,750 and Sh22,500 to Sh25,500 for secondary schools. But at the JSS, we have not agreed with the government that there will be any fee payment because it is primary school premises,” he said.
The association said they can only negotiate with the government on fees payment at senior secondary schools.
“But at JSS, the government must be aware that we are moving as it has been in the primary school level,” he insisted.
Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers deputy chairman Fuad Ali said, currently, there are no guidelines regarding fees.
“There are no guidelines regarding fees at the moment; what is important is ensuring 100 percent transition. As head teachers, we will be receiving the learners. In the course of next week, the guidelines will be dispatched. But currently, the government is assessing schools in readiness for JSS,” said Mr. Ali.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary-General Collins Oyuu, who attended the KICD meeting, said the government had assured them it will make education affordable for parents.
“The fact that we have mentioned JSS, let us not be hyper on what shall be paid as school fees. Who has told you about the school fees that shall be paid? I am happy that the government is silent about it. Parents started preparing as early as when Competency Based Curriculum was announced,” he said in an interview with Nation.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary-General Akelo Misori said school fees may not be avoided.
“If the government capitation is going to cover around Sh22,300 as usual, somebody must be able to pay the extra fees and uniform, which cannot be covered in the capitation,” said Mr. Misori.
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