A concerned parent has raised serious questions about the treatment of students at Chesamisi Boys High School after allegedly being forced to make a costly journey from Voi to Bungoma, only to find that their child would not be allowed back into school despite having cleared all required school fees.
According to the parent, who requested anonymity for fear of victimization, the student currently has no outstanding school fee balance and had also paid a KSh 3,000 damage fee demanded by the institution. However, the student was reportedly denied entry into the school because of an unpaid KSh 10,000 project contribution.
The parent says the decision has left them frustrated and financially strained, particularly after travelling hundreds of kilometers from Voi to Bungoma in an effort to resolve the matter before the school reopened.
"I travelled all the way from Voi to Bungoma believing I would sort out everything and have my child admitted back to school. To my surprise, I was informed that my child could not be allowed into the school despite having cleared all fees and the damage charges," the parent stated.
The parent further claims that the school's principal was unavailable during the visit, leaving the matter in the hands of the deputy principal. According to the complaint, the deputy principal maintained that only the principal could address the issue and that the student would have to wait until Thursday when the principal was expected to return.
The development has sparked concerns about whether schools should deny students access to education over project contributions, particularly where mandatory school fees have already been paid in full.
Burden on Parents
Beyond the issue of the student's admission, the parent says the school's handling of the matter has created an additional financial burden.
Having already spent money travelling from the Coast region to western Kenya, the parent now faces the prospect of making another trip simply to meet the principal and seek clarification on the school's position.
"This means more transport costs, more time away from work, and more disruption to my family. It is difficult to understand why this issue could not have been resolved during my visit," the parent lamented.
Education stakeholders have repeatedly emphasized the importance of keeping students in school and minimizing barriers that may interfere with learning, especially where parents have demonstrated efforts to meet their financial obligations.
Debate Over School Project Contributions
The complaint also raises broader questions regarding the nature of project contributions in public schools and whether such payments should be treated as grounds for denying learners access to education.
Over the years, parents across the country have occasionally raised concerns about additional levies and development-related contributions imposed by schools, arguing that some institutions blur the line between mandatory fees and voluntary contributions.
While schools often rely on development projects to improve infrastructure and learning facilities, education advocates argue that students should not become victims of administrative disputes or financial disagreements between schools and parents.
Calls for Ministry Intervention
The parent is now appealing to the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities to investigate the matter and provide guidance on whether the school's actions comply with existing education regulations.
The key question remains: Can a student be denied entry into school after all tuition fees and required charges have been cleared, solely because of an outstanding project contribution?
As the debate continues, the parent hopes authorities will intervene to ensure that the student's right to education is protected and that families are not subjected to unnecessary hardship when seeking access to learning.
For now, the student remains caught in the middle of a dispute that has left one parent searching for answers and wondering whether fairness and common sense have been overlooked.