Price Of School Fees To Shoot Up In January
Beginning January 2023, the price of school fees will go up, a move that is likely to...
Marvin Chege 
The government has put an end to school fee subsidies for public secondary schools, meaning parents with children in those schools will have to carefully plan their budget during the upcoming festive season.
Beginning January 2023, the price of school fees will go up, a move that is likely to ruin the economic plans of parents already struggling with tough times.
Students in national and extra-county schools will pay Ksh53,554 from the current Ksh45,000, a difference of Ksh8,554.
KCSE students doing their exams. /FILE
Those with children in public secondary schools outside the towns of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Thika, and Eldoret will pay Ksh40,000, up from Ksh35,000, a difference of Ksh5,000.
The subsidy that was abandoned by the government had revealed that Ksh19,053 was to go to boarding equipment and stores and a top grant of Ksh12,510 to cater for assertive devices and any other additional personnel needed.
Previously, the government had subsidised the fee parents were paying in the 2021/2022 school calendar, under the guise that the calendar year had 30 weeks instead of the usual 39.
However, in strict adherence to the government's free day secondary school education policy, the state will provide a Ksh22,224 subsidy for each learner in a boarding school just like the learner in a day school.
The subsidy will include tuition, for which the government set aside Ksh4,144, medical insurance Ksh2,000, Ksh1,500 for activity, and Ksh200 for strengthening mathematics and science in secondary education (SMASSE).
Meanwhile Education PS, Julius Jwan reversed the school calendar to pre-COVID-19 periods but for 2023, there will be longer weeks. The calendar was altered in 2020 by former Education CS, George Magoha as the pandemic ravaged the country.
All students will report back for term one on January 23, 2023, and close school on April 21, 2023, after 13 weeks. However, they will take a two weeks break in April 2023 instead of the usual four weeks from April 22 to May 7, 2023.
The second term will begin on May 8, 2023, and run until August 11, 2023. Students will take a three-day half-term break between June 29 and July 2.
2023's final term will start on August 28 until November 3, with students writing their KCPE exams for four days between November 6 and November 9.
Form 4 candidates sitting KCSE are expected to write their exams between November 10 and December 1, according to the new circular.
Education CS, Ezekiel Machogu with President William Ruto. /FILE
