On Jan 21 (TopNews), President William Ruto has issued a recent directive to all teachers and education officials, urging them to avoid seeking school fees from parents as schools resume operations..
Addressing the public gathering in Busia County on Sunday, President Ruto highlighted the government’s commitment to easing the financial burden on parents by providing financial support to the education sector.
The substantial sum of Ksh62 billion, recently disbursed, aims to alleviate the challenges faced by both teachers and parents during the resumption of school activities.
“In the last month, we have disbursed Ksh62 billion, encompassing primary schools, Junior Secondary Schools, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, and universities. Furthermore, a sum of Ksh10 billion has been earmarked for bursaries aimed at assisting our underprivileged students,” President Ruto declared to the assembled audience.
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He stressed the directive by declaring, “No educational official, regardless of their region, should demand fees from parents. The government has upheld its pledge by supplying sufficient funds to guarantee that all our children can go to school and acquire an education. Therefore, parents should not be obligated to pay any additional fees.”
President Ruto pointed out cases where school principals were purportedly requesting fees from parents, asserting that the allocated funds had not yet been reflected in their accounts.
“We have allocated funds for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), primary and secondary schools, as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and universities,” he stated.
This instruction comes in response to parental concerns about a surge in the expenses related to school necessities, such as stationery and bedding. There have been reports indicating that certain schools collaborated with specific stores, directing parents to procure supplies exclusively from these designated outlets.
On January 3, the government announced the allocation of Ksh31 billion as capitation for both primary and secondary schools. Out of this sum, Ksh4.74 billion was designated for the State Department for Basic Education to facilitate free primary education for Term 1. Additionally, Ksh7.6 billion was earmarked as capitation for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).
A week later, an extra Ksh12 billion was released by the government, with the goal of supporting students’ transition into Junior Secondary Schools and enhancing the overall education system. President Ruto underscored the significance of establishing a strong foundation for Kenya’s education system.