Ruto Urges All School Teachers To Stop Demanding Fees From Parents

Ruto remarked that his government had already released Ksh62 billion to cover all stages of learning, including Ksh10 billion for needy students.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Jan 21, 2024 - 21:32 Updated: Jan 21, 2024 - 21:37
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Ruto Urges All School Teachers To Stop Demanding Fees From Parents
President William Ruto addresses Busia residents on Sunday, January 21, 2023. /PCS

President William Ruto on Sunday, January 21 directed all teachers and education officials to stop demanding school fees from parents amidst the reopening of schools.

Addressing a roadside rally in Busia County, Ruto remarked that his government had already released Ksh62 billion to cover all stages of learning, including Ksh10 billion for needy students.

"I want to say this for the avoidance of any doubt. We have released, in the last one month, Ksh62 billion. Money for primary school, Junior Secondary School, TVETs and universities. We have released Ksh10 billion for bursaries for all our needy students," he told the crowd.

"I want to ask as a directive, no education official of any place shall demand for fees from any parent. The government has made its commitment, we have given enough money to make sure that all our children go to school and they learn. Therefore, there will be no requirement by parents for them to pay any extra fees."

President William Ruto speaking during a thanksgiving service in Busia on Sunday, January 21, 2023. /PCS

The Head of State went on to claim that some principals were extorting money from parents under the belief that the disbursed capitation was yet to reflect on their accounts.

"I say that because there are cunning people still asking parents for money. We have released JSS money as the government even that for primary and secondary schools as well as TVETs and universities," he added.

Earlier during a thanksgiving service in Busia, Ruto affirmed that the government is committed to bolstering access to education across the nation, adding that his administration has increased the number of teachers to work in various institutions and even more will be added.

"We have employed new 56,000 teachers to teach our children. This week 2,000 teachers will be employed into TVETs because we know the importance of education and we want every child to be educated to create equality," he noted.

This comes after parents complained about the increase in the cost of school supplies which include stationery and bedding.

Reports emerged that some schools had colluded with specific shops in directing parents to buy supplies for their students.

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu had on Friday, January 12 warned Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) schools against charging parents extra levies outside the government fee structure in response to reports of some schools imposing extra charges under the guise of expanding their infrastructure to accommodate learners joining Grade 8 in 2024.

According to the Ministry of Education, primary education in Kenya is free and it is catered for by the government. In boarding schools, however, the government provides a subsidy to each learner, with parents paying the boarding fees applicable to different locations of schools and their categories.

The National Treasury disbursed Ksh4.74 billion on January 3 to the State Department for Basic Education towards the facilitation of free primary education for Term 1. Additionally, the State Department was given Ksh7.6 billion as a capitation for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).

The Treasury also disbursed Ksh2.8 billion to cater for school examination and invigilation costs, while Ksh16.2 billion will go towards financing free-day secondary schools in the first term.

Likewise, on January 17, Ksh192 billion was disbursed to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

Education CS, Ezekiel Machogu during a past address. /FILE