Parents shop for uniforms as schools plan for 2018 first term opening. Most schools continue to defy directives by the Ministry of Education. [Photo/Standard]
Secondary schools are yet to reduce their fees, despite the government subsidising the same.
The government reviewed the structures for most of the secondary schools, but they still charge medical and insurance fees, exams and other learning materials, which is against government directive.
It also raised the annual subsidy for each pupil from Sh12,870 to Sh22,244 to ensure free day secondary school as it absorbed the Sh9,374 that parents were required to pay.
In the reviewed structure, parents are required to pay a maximum of Sh53,554 in a year, but the levies still remain upward of Sh100,000 currently.
President Uhuru Kenyatta promised that his government would provide insurance coverage for all students through NHIF, but some schools still continue to indicate medical fees on their structure.
Form One admission letters from Musingu, Naivasha Girls, St Bakhita Gataragwa, Tumutumu Girls, Naro Moru Girls, Othaya Boys and Njabini Boys ask parents to buy Bibles, spring files, mathematical sets, dictionaries, atlases, pens, pencils and Kamusi, among other items.
Speaking at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in August, President Uhuru Kenyatta reaffirmed that the government was working to implement the free secondary education by January 2018 as promised in the Jubilee campaigns and manifestos.
“The ministry of education currently is putting measures to ensure this is possible,” he said.
The government has successfully carried out free primary school education in the country, which was first launched by Former President Mwai Kibaki.
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