The Government has warned head teachers in public schools against increasing fees even as funds for second term are yet to be released.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said although they were aware that the schools were facing challenges, no teacher should dare increase school fees.
“We know there are challenges with the 100 per cent transition but they should not charge any extra fee,” said Prof Magoha.
The warning comes even as principals and head teachers called on the ministry to hasten the disbursement of funds as schools reopen today.
Many public schools have complained that registering students on the National Education Management Information System (Nemis) was not concluded in first term hence the lack of cash.
Unions and school heads associations contend that the perennial delay in the disbursement of funds is a threat to smooth running of the learning institutions.
Prolonged drought
In addition, due to prolonged drought, the cost of commodities especially cereals have gone up forcing school heads to devise ways of using the available funds.
However, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) Chairman Indimuli Kahi warned of hard times ahead if the ministry does not allow them to increase fees.
“We had made our proposals to the ministry over the issue of revising fee structure. We are yet to get any response. We will not charge any extra levy but this is something that the ministry should consider immediately,” said Mr Indimuli.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary General Akello Misori asked the Government to disburse the funds to enable head teachers plan early and avoid sending students back home.
Akello noted that last term, some 200 schools were left out due to delayed registration on Nemis.
“The ministry (intended to) register about 8.5 million students but only managed 3.2 million. The schools that were left out should get the disbursement including for this term,” said Mr Misori.
If approved, fees in extra-county schools will go up by 17,773, pushing the annual cost to Sh80,452, up from the current Sh62,679.
Parents with children in national schools will fork out an additional Sh15,848, raising the annual fees to Sh91,646. The current annual fees in national schools is capped at Sh75,798.