Nyamira Senator Mong’are Okong’o has expressed his disappointment over the slow implementation of the new school fee guidelines that were adopted by the Ministry of Education.
Speaking at Nyakemincha Secondary School on Friday, Okong’o noted that some schools were still overcharging students, making many to drop out of school.
The Ford Kenya Senator urged head teachers to implement fee guidelines as directed by the ministry to make education affordable for ordinary citizens.
“I have information from parents that schools are still charging exorbitant fees. This is contrary to what the Ministry of Education recommended and school heads have a responsibility to implement the new guidelines,” he said.
“ We don’t want scenarios where parents suffer because they cannot afford to educate their children. They are implementing the policy at a slow pace,” he said.
He challenged the ministry to follow up and punish errant head teachers who are reluctant to comply with the new regulations.
“If headmasters cannot implement a simple policy like that, then it’s appropriate that the Ministry of Education intervenes and punishes those who are not ready to comply with the new fee structures. We do not want to see children being sent home to collect irregular fees,” he said.
Okong’o urged principals to focus on improving the quality of education rather than engaging in unscrupulous activities of soliciting irregular fee from students.
“As school heads, you must always be ready to implement government directives. Your main objective is to improve education quality in the region. The government wasn’t mad to come with the new guidelines and this means you can be able to sustain the institution with the new regulations,” he said.
Under the new guidelines, national schools are supposed to charge up to Sh40,000, with local schools paying up to Sh10,000 per year.