Explainer: Why School Heads Want Secondary School Fees Increased

Explainer: Why School Heads Want Secondary School Fees Increased

Editor’s review: School heads say there is Operational Crisis in their Institutions and want fees paid by parents increased.

Parents of children attending public secondary schools may soon face higher fees if a new proposal from school administrators is approved. The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) presented the proposal in a document titled ‘Operational Crisis in Secondary Schools.’

If accepted, secondary school fees could rise by as much as Sh20,000 annually. Parents of students in national schools would need to pay Sh73,182 each year, up from the previous Sh53,554, adding an extra Sh19,628 to their expenses. For extra county and county schools, the proposed fee is Sh68,023, an increase from Sh45,554.

Additionally, the school heads are pushing to introduce fees for day schools, which the government has previously claimed provide free secondary education.

The proposal suggests that day school students pay an extra Sh5,372 in addition to the government’s Sh22,244 capitation.

Kessha argues that the existing fees, based on government guidelines, no longer reflect inflation and the rising costs of necessities like food, utilities, and educational materials.

They note significant increases in the prices of essential items, for example, a ream of photocopy paper that was Sh420 in 2015 now costs Sh890, and a 50kg bag of rice has risen from Sh3,600 to Sh7,200.

The proposal states, “The current capitation of Sh22,244 per learner was last reviewed seven years ago, and does not align with the current economic realities.”

The school heads explained that while the costs for essential goods and services have drastically increased, the capitation has not changed, putting financial pressure on schools to fulfill their operational responsibilities.

Due to rising prices, schools have had to limit meal portions, postpone projects, and operate under difficult conditions. This proposal has been submitted to Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba, for review.

The Ministry of Education had set caps on fees at Sh53,554 for national schools and Sh40,535 for county and extra county schools.

However, Ogamba has not yet commented on the proposal, despite previously cautioning school heads against increasing fees in January, insisting that the 2024 fee structure should remain intact.

Parents have voiced their displeasure with the proposal, with National Parents Association chairman Silas Obuhatsa declaring that any fee hike would further strain families already contending with high living costs.

School heads argue that the proposed fee increases are essential to mitigate the financial difficulties faced by secondary schools, which have worsened due to decreased government funding.

Consequently, some headteachers are considering advancing the mid-term break to alleviate financial stress. Kessha chairman, Willie Kuria, described the situation as critical, stating that schools are struggling to meet financial obligations due to delayed funding disbursements.

Kuria said, “The only option left is to close schools. School heads can’t provide food for learners. We are in a major crisis, and we need to make the right choices.”

Most schools have been sending learners home to collect school fees, amidst stern warning from the Ministry of Education.