School Principals Advocate for KSh 27,000 Annual Fee Increase Amid Funding Shortfalls.
Kenyan secondary school principals have proposed an annual fee increase of up to KSh 27,000 per student, citing severe funding shortfalls and escalating operational costs. The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) argues that the current government capitation of KSh 22,244 per student, established in 2018, is insufficient and has not kept pace with inflation. In reality, schools receive less than KSh 10,479 per student due to retentions and partial disbursements.
In their proposal to the Ministry of Education, KESSHA recommends that parents with children in national schools pay an additional KSh 19,628 annually, while those in extra-county schools face a KSh 27,488 increase. Currently, day school students do not pay tuition fees; however, the association suggests introducing an annual fee of KSh 5,372 for these learners.
KESSHA Chairperson Willy Kuria emphasizes that the financial crisis in schools, exacerbated by inadequate funding and rising costs of goods and services, threatens to disrupt education for millions of students. The association warns that without urgent intervention, secondary schools in Kenya are on the brink of closure.
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However, this proposal has met significant opposition from education stakeholders. Mwalimu Michael Gacohi, representing the Jenga Mkenya Movement, criticizes the proposed fee hike as “unjust, impractical, and exploitative,” arguing that it fails to address the root causes of financial inefficiencies within the education system.
The debate over school fees in Kenya continues, as stakeholders grapple with balancing quality education and financial sustainability. The Ministry of Education has yet to respond to KESSHA’s proposal, leaving parents and educators in anticipation of a resolution to this pressing issue.
School Principals Advocate for KSh 27,000 Annual Fee Increase Amid Funding Shortfalls.
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