This archive report was first published on 17 August 2019.
On August 15, 2019, Mwiti Marete wrote an opinion piece in the Daily Nation that caught my attention as a parent with a child in school.
As a parent, I can relate to Marete's concerns about the levies charged by schools. The issue of school trips, in particular, has been a source of frustration for me.
According to Marete, school trips are not school money, but rather a parental contribution. He argues that parents should be held accountable for every shilling paid for the trip.
However, Marete's opinion is not limited to public schools. He also highlights the issue of private schools charging exorbitant fees for trips, and even isolating or stigmatizing children whose parents cannot afford to pay.
As a parent who has paid for trips for my child, I can attest to the fact that these charges are not only unnecessary but also unfair. Marete notes that traveling within Nairobi can cost as little as Sh200, but schools charge Sh1,000 per child for the same journey.
Furthermore, Marete expresses frustration over the issue of extra classes, which he believes are a cash cow for schools. He notes that children are forced to pay Sh1,000 every month for extra classes, which are not even necessary.
According to Marete, the school's argument that classes start officially at 8am and that teachers need to be paid for the extra class is not convincing. He believes that this is just a way for schools to make extra money.
What hurts most, according to Marete, is to see the government faking seriousness with its directive against extra classes, tuition, and extra fees. He believes that the government is helpless when it comes to enforcing its orders.
As a parent, I share Marete's concerns and call on the government to probe the levies charged by schools. It is time for the government to take action and ensure that schools are transparent and accountable in their financial dealings.
