This archive report was first published on 9 October 2021.
As schools prepare to reopen for the second term on Tuesday, October 12, a growing number of parents are facing a daunting challenge: raising the necessary school fees.
According to National Parents Association Chairperson Nicholas Maiyo, many parents have lost their jobs due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving them financially struggling to meet the fees.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on October 8, Maiyo revealed that parents had requested a two-week grace period from the Ministry of Education to clear second-term fees.
"I will petition the ministry to see if they will allow parents some grace period to clear second-term fees," Maiyo stated.
However, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has warned headteachers against sending learners away due to school fees, assuring that the government has released Sh17.5 billion to schools across the country as capitation for the second term.
Of this amount, Ksh15.3 billion will go to secondary schools, while Ksh2.2 billion will be channeled to primary schools.
Magoha emphasized that the money has been released to schools and that no school has any justification to send children home.
