Kuresoi north: Kuresoi North MP, Alfred Mutai and Molo counterpart, Kuria Kimani, have cautioned school principals against arbitrarily increasing fees in both primary and secondary schools. The two legislators said there has been a surge in complaints from parents over rising school fees, stressing that such increases are unlawful and must stop immediately. They warned that any school heads found to be raising fees illegally will face strict disciplinary action.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mutai made the remarks at By-Gum Primary School in the Sirikwa area during the launch of five new classrooms constructed through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF). ‘Those school principals who are extorting parents be warned, that the school fee hike will amount to sabotaging the government and painting the ministry a negative reputation,’ said Mutai. ‘We can’t allow a few individuals to do business in schools, yet parents are going through hard economic times. You either stick to ministry guidelines or be treated as criminals,’ he added.
The legislator reiterated to note that despite the majority of learners having been sponsored by the government and well-wishers, some principals are knowingly increasing fees to be mindful of this situation. ‘We have some learners either sponsored by the NG-CDF, others by financial institutions and others by well-wishers but some greedy characters increase few to profit from this vulnerable Kenyan. This must stop,’ Mutai warned.
On his part, Molo MP Kuria spoke at Elburgon DEB senior school where he disbursed bursary cheques worth Sh60 million to needy students from JSS all the way to university. ‘We cannot allow daytime robbery to go on in our institutions of learning which disadvantage learners from humble backgrounds. Education must remain the equalizer for all,’ said Kuria Kimani.
The legislators urged the security team led by County commissioners to do investigations and flag-out all principals extorting parents so that they can restore sanity in the ministry of education. Kuria urged the ministry of education to ensure resources are available on time to enable smooth running and implementation of CBE curriculum. Their remarks come a day after the ministry of education issued a disciplinary action against the school principal of Alliance Girls National school.
