Principals defy government order on selling school items as form one reports
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Principals defy government order on selling school items as they turn students joining form one into money minting venture
Principals defy government order on selling school items as they turn students joining form one into money minting venture.
Some school principals, particularly those in charge of national and extra-county boarding schools, have turned the institutions into money-making enterprises, taking advantage of parents by charging extortionate charges for items like uniforms.
Despite the government forbidding the selling of uniforms in schools, parents claimed they were left at the mercy of the administrators who are exploiting them.
They now want the government to intervene against the principals, who are also enforcing additional levies and other covert fees in violation of the rules set forth by the Ministry of Education.
On January 24, Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria said parents have the freedom of buying school items from preferred stores.
However, according to reports some principals of boarding schools continue to sell the items or direct parents to source them from specific suppliers where they get a cut.
In several boarding schools, the principals are charging Sh22,600 for items bought from the institutions, including books, uniforms, and mattresses.
According to a report by Daily Nation, a scarf and tie costing around Sh400 at Mombasa Uniform Centre are sold at Sh700 at Dr. Aggrey High School in Taita-Taveta.
A tracksuit with the school badge goes for Sh2,200 while it’s sold at Sh1,500 outside the school.
“The following requirements will be available in school to be bought at the cost indicated: white/black rubber shoes at Sh900, school magazine Sh1,000, branding of all items with an admission number Sh250, mattress (high density) and a bucket Sh3,000, games t-shirt and short Sh1,200, house t-shirt Sh700, jumper Sh2,800,” indicated the calling letter of one of the students joining the school.
“For uniformity, Dr. Aggrey High School will provide mathematical tools which include a scientific calculator FX 82 EX, Nataraj geometrical set, Knec four-figure mathematical table 7th edition, and two spring files.
All parents are required to pay a total of Sh3,300 so that their sons can be issued the items by the school,” further stated the letter.
A parent who is a tailor said principals are benefiting from school uniforms.
“I have done the calculations, had I procured from a bookshop and uniform centre, I would have saved around Sh8,000, that’s much the principals are pocketing per child,” said the parent.
Education stakeholders led by the National Parents Association chairperson Silas Obuhatsa urged the state to rein in the principals.
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“We don’t expect heads of schools to charge parents any fees out of the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education. On uniforms, you cannot coerce parents to buy uniforms from schools. Allow parents to buy where they want to buy,” said Mr. Obuhatsa.
A parent at one of the top performing schools claimed that he was shocked when he was forced to buy items amounting to close to Sh50,000 on reporting day yet they were not indicated in the admission letter.
A parent who took his son to Meru School said she paid Sh22,600 for the uniform.
“The Sh22,600 catered for a sweater, two trousers, a blanket, a bed cover, and a mattress among other essentials. I wonder what’s happening, the government said it had stopped principals from forcing us to procure uniforms from school but things on the ground are different,” revealed the parent.
At Kakamega High school, a parent narrated how she had to pay more than Sh22,000 for uniforms, a mattress, and other items in the school.
“The calling letter clearly states the amount we are supposed to pay for the uniforms and we have paid,” said the parent.
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