Magoha orders fees refund for secondary school parents

 

The Education Ministry has ordered public secondary schools to refund parents fees charged besides that which the government has recommended.

The Education Ministry in a circular further outlawed schools from sending students home for failing to clear any extra arrears that exceed the set fees.

The recommended fees for national schools is set at Sh45,054, county schools at Sh35,035 while day schools are free.

“Any fees collected above the revised guidelines be refunded or treated as prepayment of fees for continuing students… No child will be sent away for non-payment of such fees,” the circular dated August 9 reads.

The circular notes that the ministry had received complaints on schools are charging illegal levies outside the guidelines.

The PS said any fees collected above the revised guidelines be refunded or treated as prepayment of fees for continuing students.

Kibet further noted that any unreported cases of a school charging illegal levies will attract sanctions on the responsible officer.

“Your reports should be submitted to director secondary via email address directorsecondary2018@gmail.com for compiling and further processing,” he said.

The Ministry of Education further ordered county directors to report schools that are charging illegal fees with immediate effect.

This was after reports that some schools continue to charge fees outside the guidelines leading to dissatisfaction from the parents and guardians.

In a circular on Tuesday, Education PS Paul Kibet said all county and sub county directors of education should do so without fail.

“Any school that desires to charge amounts above the stipulated fees must make a formal request to the cabinet secretary and will only charge after written authorization has been granted,” he said.

Kibet said where the lunch program is in place, the same should be made optional.    BY THE STAR