The government has issued a warning to teachers encouraging fee payment via mobile services alluding that it is one of the ways through which school heads misappropriate the funds.
Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi said the Teachers Service Commission’s guidelines stipulate that every school transaction should be done though bank account.
“The policy of the TSC is that every fee payment be made at the bank and not through M-PESA, Aitel Money or any other mobile services,” said Matiangi.
He said most teachers do not issue receipts when they receive money via mobile services.
“You can easily loose the message sent to you about the transaction. You will hence have no proof of any payment,” said Matiangi.
Speaking on Friday in Homa Bay during the County Education Day, the CS further directed parents to ask for receipts whenever they pay any money to school.
He said the receipt would be the only support that a parent would use when fee payment issues arise.
He further directed all schools to issue all students with receipts when they receive the money meant for the free education sent by the government.
“Whenever money is paid by the government all parents should ask for receipts from the schools accounts office because this is also a form of fee payment,” said Matiangi.
The Education Cabinet Secretary directed that pupils should not be sent home to get parents who fail to turn up for meetings at the school.
Matiangi said teachers should find a suitable means of passing any information to parents.
“Use Short Message Services to send the message to parents. Those who do not turn up should be arrested by the local administration,” said Matiangi.
He earlier made impromptu visits to 12 schools across Homa Bay County where he expressed his pleasure with the learning conditions in the institutions.