The Ministry of Education Wans School Heads on Unauthorized School Levies

The Ministry of Education Wans School Heads on Unauthorized School Levies.

The Ministry of Education has cautioned school administrators against imposing unauthorized levies on parents as learners resume for the 2025 academic year.

Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba emphasized that the government would not tolerate any attempts to charge parents irregular fees.

He noted that field officers have been directed to ensure strict compliance with this directive, especially in light of complaints from parents and demands by some school heads for additional payments.

Ogamba stated that education officials are under instructions to heighten vigilance and prevent any unauthorized charges.

The Ministry’s circular on fee structures, he reiterated, must be strictly adhered to by all school heads. Education officers have been tasked with enforcing these guidelines to protect parents from unwarranted financial burdens.

He affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring parents are not asked to pay levies outside the approved framework.

Rising Complaints from Parents

The issue of unauthorized levies has caused increasing discontent among parents. Reports indicate that some school heads are demanding payments for items such as teacher motivation, realm papers, budget support, and tuition fees, all of which contravene ministry regulations.

According to the regulations, any additional charges must first be proposed during parent meetings supervised by education ministry officials.

These proposals are then reviewed by the ministry before approval is granted. However, parents have expressed concerns that these discussions are often bypassed, with arbitrary charges imposed at the start of the term.

Ogamba also issued a stern warning to school heads against sending learners home over fee arrears.

He assured parents that the government is working closely with the National Treasury to ensure timely disbursement of capitation funds to schools. No student, he emphasized, should be denied education due to unpaid fees.

Capitation Funds to Support Learning

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi assured the public that capitation funds would be released by January 31.

Speaking to Nation, Mbadi stated that although there might be delays in releasing the entire amount, at least half of the Sh48 billion allocation would be made available.

Earlier, Ogamba had assured schools that Sh48.38 billion in capitation funds would be disbursed as the academic year began.

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Out of this amount, Sh4.1 billion is designated for public primary schools, Sh15.3 billion for Day Junior Secondary Schools, and Sh28.9 billion for Day Secondary Schools.

Both Ogamba and Mbadi underscored the importance of timely funding to facilitate uninterrupted learning. They called on school heads to adhere to regulations and focus on delivering quality education without burdening parents unnecessarily.

The Ministry of Education Wans School Heads on Unauthorized School Levies.

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