Parents Brace for Potential Fee Hikes as Schools Reopen on Monday.
Parents may face higher school fees as institutions prepare to reopen on Monday, January 6. This anticipated increase is likely to significantly impact parents with children in high school.
The Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, and Hospital Workers (KUDHEIHA) has raised alarm, noting that if the government fails to release capitation funds before schools reopen, parents will bear the financial burden.
Since 2008, the government’s Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) program has provided capitation grants to cover tuition fees, ensuring students’ access to education.
KUDHEIHA Secretary General Albert Njeru expressed concerns that parents of students in Forms 2, 3, and 4 will have to pay more to cover school expenses. He stated that the additional fees would address the needs of students, casual workers, textbooks, and other operational requirements.
Njeru emphasized that schools rely on these funds to meet daily operational demands and to pay non-teaching staff. Without timely government support, schools are left with no choice but to increase fees.
Subordinate Workers Face Job Uncertainty
Njeru highlighted the plight of over 500,000 subordinate workers under KUDHEIHA employed in secondary schools.
He urged the government to develop clear policies for the timely disbursement of capitation funds and for managing the employment of these workers.
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He added that policies are necessary to ensure subordinate staff are absorbed into Junior Secondary Schools after the Ministry of Education declared many of their roles redundant.
The government’s capitation grants per learner have steadily risen over the years, starting at Ksh10,625 in 2008, increasing to Ksh12,870 in 2015, and reaching Ksh22,244 in 2018.
These funds were intended to eliminate tuition fees for public secondary schools, although parents still pay boarding fees set by the Ministry of Education.
Apart from rising school fees, parents are grappling with increased costs of school supplies, including uniforms and textbooks. This additional expense adds to their financial burden as the new school term begins.
Government Redundancy Directive Sparks Confusion
Meanwhile, confusion surrounds subordinate workers in secondary schools following a government directive declaring their roles redundant.
The Ministry of Education’s letter ordered workers to vacate their posts effective January 1.
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KUDHEIHA has called on the government to reverse this decision and devise a strategy to integrate these workers into Junior Secondary Schools, ensuring their livelihoods are safeguarded.
Parents Brace for Potential Fee Hikes as Schools Reopen on Monday.
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