Give us time to get fees, parents tell Education ministry

Parents are in talks with the Ministry of Education to extend the period of paying next term’s school fees, saying the financial burden is too big.

This comes as schools officially close this week for a week’s break ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The chairman of the Kenya National Parents Association, Mr Nicholas Maiyo, said the association had received numerous concerns from parents across the country asking to be given more time to get fees for their children.

“Parents feel pressured to raise fees within a period of one week and considering that it is during Christmas holiday, the financial burden is heavier on them,” said Mr Maiyo.

In the past, parents were used to a long break of nearly two months given to learners for the end of year holiday, and that gave them enough time to get fees.

This is the first time learners are closing for one week in December, because of the crash programme being implemented in schools to recover the “lost” 2020 academic calendar.

Mr Maiyo said the parents association is engaging the Ministry of Education and secondary school heads, especially those in boarding schools to give parents sufficient time to raise the third term fees.

“In July we engaged the ministry to reduce this years’ school fees and it was reversed, we will continue to engage the ministry so that parents have enough time to raise the fees,” he said.

Toughest year

Parents who spoke to the Nation said this year has been the toughest for them financially since they had to pay school fees four times.

The ministry’s school calendar indicated that both primary and secondary schools are scheduled to close on December 23. However, most schools, especially boarding secondary ones, closed last week.

Some primary schools closed on Friday last week while majority are scheduled to close tomorrow. Others closed on Tuesday and yesterday.

Mr Faustine Mutua, a parent whose daughter is in Form Four, said this year has not been easy.

“As parents we are excited that children are coming home for Christmas, but when I remember that I will have to raise fees again to pay for my daughter in a week’s time, it is driving me crazy,” he said.

Ms Joyce Waweru said the fees was too much and asked the ministry to consider increasing the funds it sends to schools to ease the burden on parents.

“We appreciate the amount released to schools by the government, however, if that money can be increased, it will help us reduce the fees we pay. This year and next year will not be easy for us,” said Ms Waweru.

Parents with children in private schools also complained that they were required to pay large amounts of money in fees.

“I had to suspend some of my projects to be able to pay fees for my two children who are in a private school in Nairobi,” said Ms Angie Kibet.

The parents’ association said the Ministry of Education should ensure that schools do not impose extra levies next term without seeking approval.

Mr Maiyo said without ministry restrictions, some schools have taken advantage and have asked parents to pay extra fees above the amounts stipulated by the ministry.

By yesterday, Mr Maiyo said, only one school had provided an approval letter from the ministry allowing it to charge more.

In the letter signed by Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwan, Jomo Kenyatta Girls High school, Nakuru, has been allowed to charge Sh10,000 per student above the fees guidelines for the construction of a dormitory.

“The ministry notes that the dormitory is essential in addressing the challenge of overcrowding in the existing facilities due to increased enrolment,” said Dr Jwan in the letter.

Dr Jwan, however, said no student should be denied access to learning for failure to pay the extra charges.

Mr Maiyo said although parents acknowledge that most schools will need more funding for construction of dormitories after they were razed by students in the second term, that was no reason to overcharge parents through extra levies without seeking approval from the ministry.

Mr Maiyo has also called on parents to take time over the holiday to talk to their children and instill discipline in them.

“There is need for parents to engage their children and know the reason behind them burning schools, if parents fail to discipline their children, the financial burden will affect them as the burned dormitories will have to be re-paired,” said Mr Maiyo.