CS Machogu Clarifies On January School Fees Increase Reports.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu commented on the impending increase in school fees beginning in January 2023.
Machogu clarified in Wajir County that the government had not altered the fee structure for public secondary schools.
According to customer service, they are reverting to the rates that were in effect prior to the pandemic.
“We have not changed the school fees and if it is to be done, there is to be another task force and Kenyans know that we have a presidential working team (Competency-Based Curriculum taskforce) which is moving around the country,” he stated.
“As of January 23, we will have three terms the way it used to be before the fees structure remains the same as that of two years ago,” he added.
According to the Education CS, any changes made to the school fee rates would occasion the formation of a task force that would evaluate and collect reviews from stakeholders before it is implemented.
“Anybody saying the figure has been changed, that is not here in Kenya. Changing school fees would need another task force,” he noted.
A previous ministry circular indicated that the fees would increase as a result of the elimination of fee subsidies for public schools.
Students in national and extra-county schools would pay Ksh53,554, an increase from the current Ksh45,000 fee.
Those with children enrolled in public secondary schools outside of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Thika, and Eldoret will pay Ksh40,000, an increase from Ksh35,000. This meant that parents were required to account for an increase ranging from Ksh5,535 to Ksh8,500.
Equally, the annual tuition for Special Needs Secondary Schools would increase from Ksh10,860 to Ksh12,790.
Due to the devastating effects of the pandemic, the government subsidized school fees during the 2021-2022 school year.
The Ministry of Education observed that the calendar contained only 30 weeks as opposed to the usual 39.
