School Principals Charge Extra Fees Outside Guidelines, Cite Funding Shortages.
Principals across the nation have increasingly sought extra school fees from parents, exceeding the official guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education.
They attribute this to insufficient government funding allocations. Investigations reveal that schools have adopted various strategies to impose these additional charges while evading detection by auditors or sanctions from authorities.
In some instances, schools formalize these extra levies by obtaining parental consent during annual general meetings. In others, the illegal fees are deposited into separate accounts, distinct from the official ones where the Ministry of Education (MoE) deposits funds. Notably, these levies often go unreceipted.
Hidden Costs and Their Purpose
The additional charges are reportedly used to cover expenses such as remedial teaching, often termed “motivation,” the acquisition of school buses and uniforms, and the construction of school facilities.
However, these costs are not reflected in fee structures for students on full scholarships funded by county governments, the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), or other donors, who only pay the officially stipulated amounts.
A parent from Kagumo Boys High School in Nyeri shared that last year, they paid Sh80,000 in school fees along with an additional Sh12,000 for remedial teaching.
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They expressed frustration at the government’s failure to enforce its school fee policy, highlighting suspicions of collusion between senior education officials and school administrations.
Similarly, learners at Githunguchu Secondary School in Nyandarua County face hidden charges, including Sh2,000 for development and Sh1,500 per term for remedial teaching, which are not reflected in the fee structure.
Widespread Examples of Extra Charges
Leshao Boys High School, categorized as an extra-county school, charges Sh40,535 in government-approved fees but demands an additional Sh12,500 for academic improvement, development, and educational tours.
Parents, like Jacob Weru, question whether these funds genuinely translate into meaningful school development projects.
In Laikipia County, parents report that while fee structures appear to comply with MoE guidelines, additional hidden costs burden them.
A parent from St Joseph Tigithi Boys High School lamented paying extra fees for solar panels, remedial teaching, and bread, none of which were documented in the official fee structure.
Similarly, at Nanyuki Girls Secondary School, parents must contribute Sh6,000 for a bus project and Sh1,500 for remedial teaching, expenses they claim were imposed without proper parental approval.
Political and Official Reactions
Ndaragua MP George Gachagua noted that these hidden charges create accountability challenges for auditors and urged the Ministry of Education to address the issue.
He emphasized that unstructured fee increments lead to inequality and financial strain on parents. Joe Nyutu, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, echoed these concerns, describing the fees as criminal and calling for strict government oversight.
Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha also criticized the lax enforcement of fee policies. He highlighted the challenges faced by scholarship beneficiaries, who still find themselves unable to attend classes due to unapproved additional charges.
He advocated for all fees to be transparently documented in a single account.
Parents’ Struggles and Appeals
Parents across various counties have expressed frustration with these unapproved charges. Many rely on bursaries from NG-CDF or county governments, which are often insufficient and disbursed late into the term.
A parent from Nanyuki described how dissenting voices at annual general meetings are suppressed, making it difficult to contest these fees.
Read Also: Bursary Funds Audit Exposes Corruption of Millions Meant for Needy Learners Across Constituencies
Another parent shared that despite their financial struggles, they are forced to pay for projects like buses and other expenses they never agreed to.
The burden of hidden school fees continues to grow, leaving parents financially strained and students at risk of missing out on education. Calls for stricter policy enforcement and transparency in school finances remain urgent.
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