Parents of pupils joining form one this year in Machakos County are up in arms, over the high Schools fees in public schools that has made it tough for most of them.
Speaking in Masinga Constituency on Wednesday, several parents who were preparing their children for form one admissions explained that despite their children performing well, they will not get admitted to their dream schools, but on the contrary, join local day Schools.
Serah Kilonzo, who is a mother to a boy who scored 420 marks, explained her child’s disappointment.
“My child worked very hard last year and scored high marks, after which he got an admission letter to high ranked National School but the fees is very high and I cannot afford such for four years. Even if I took him to form one, he would be forced to transfer sooner than later,” said Kilonzo.
Many parents have complained that head of Schools have raised fees, even after the government warned against it.
Joseph Matolo, a resident of Kaewa location in Matuu, Yatta Sub-county also stated that his daughter had also been admitted to a School in Machakos County, but will be forced to look for an alternative after being put off by high fees.
The residents called the County government through the Constituency Development Fund to help finance the children who performed well, so that they get a fair chance with the rest of the pupils from well-of backgrounds.
They further argued that CDF offers Sh5,000 to Sh10,000 to Secondary School pupils, which in a situation of the escalated fees will not be of much help as some of the school fees structures read up to Sh40,000 or 50,000 for form one admissions.