Pupils sitting an exam. Parents have complained that secondary schools have raised fees. Photo/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 – The Cabinet Secretary for Education Jacob Kaimenyi has formed a taskforce to review secondary school fees following concerns of unnecessary increment by various school heads.
The taskforce, chaired by former Assistant Minister Kilemi Mwiria will be required to work with County Education Boards to review and itemise what tuition fees covers, to determine what parents should pay.
Addressing journalists at his Jogoo House office on Monday, Kaimenyi said the taskforce will also review the policy guidelines on the implementation of Free Day Secondary Education programme.
“This is informed by the fact that secondary school fees were reviewed more than five years ago and might not be applicable today due to inflationary pressures,” he said.
Once through with their report, he said the ministry will implement the report to ensure affordable and quality education in all public schools.
The taskforce will also review essentials versus luxurious needs in secondary education.
In order to come up with credible recommendations, he said the team was required to consult widely.
“The team will no doubt undertake in-depth reviews of earlier relevant reports like the Gachukia reports on Free Primary and Secondary Education, the Prof Odhiambo report on the alignment of education to the new constitution as well as other relevant literature,” he pointed out.
“It is my expectation therefore that this team will carry out exhaustive consultations with as many stakeholders as possible and particularly the County Education Boards so as to inform the report and come up with structures for such consultations.”
As a result of the public outcry resulting from the increased school fees, he said that already in a circular to schools on April 7, he directed all public secondary schools to suspend any planned fees hikes, “for this year until the report by this taskforce is released.”
The team will also review the salary guidelines for non-teaching staff in secondary education.
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