22/03/2023
UPDATE:
IRATE PARENTS URGE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST HEADS CHARGING EXTRA LEVIES
...... HAWK-EYED PARENTS OF MUMBUNI PRIMARY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER FOODSTUFFS DONATED BY THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT BENEFITED STUDENTS
Furious parents in Machakos County have asked the government to take action against primary and secondary school heads who are imposing extra levies and other hidden charges in contravention of Ministry of Education guidelines.
A survey conducted by County Champion sought to find out the impact of tuition on the over-all rights to education for children from poor households.
The survey has also established that some school heads still compel parents to pay tuition levy for their children with some schools charging Ksh. 500 per term per child.
Children whose parents have failed to comply are in most occasions sent back home to bring the same a situation that has caused most of them to desert schools.
Enraged parents of Mumbuni Primary and St Mary's Boys primary school want education CS Ezekiel Machongu to intervene.
At Mumbuni Primary parents are sh 600 for grade 2 and 3 while 4-8 are paying sh 800 for illegal tuition.
Parents are also asking whether the foodstuffs donated by the County Government of Machakos has so far benefited the students.
In secondary schools, parents have complained about being asked to pay Sh4,000 for motivation for teachers and an additional Sh5,000 for remedial lessons.
Learners who fail to pay the money are sent home and parents are asked to pay the money before their children are allowed back in school.
Last month the Government directed county education officials to ensure that no public school is charging unauthorized levies imposed by head teachers within their jurisdiction.
In a circular issued by Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, Regional, County, and Sub-County Directors of Education were directed to move with speed and probe schools imposing illegal charges on parents.
The PS says the Ministry has received complaints from angered parents and guardians and other stakeholders on unauthorized levies imposed by head teachers especially admission fees, purchase of desks, and lunch money in complete contravention of the government policies and directives.
PS Kipsang notified the education officials to also ensure that no levies are charged on the above.
MORE TO FOLLOW.........
