Any teacher imposing levies on junior secondary school pupils in Uasin Gishu county will be forced to refund the money and face disciplinary action, Uasin Gishu County Director of Education (CDE) Mr. Harrison Muriuki has said.
Muriuki said the government had directed that pupils joining grade seven are not supposed to pay fees before admission adding that the government was also categorical that pupils are free to join any approved junior secondary school of their choice without being turned away for any reason.
“No parent should be asked to pay for anything or asked to take desks to school so that their child can be admitted, the school’s board of management or head teachers currently acting as junior secondary school principals should not impose any levies on parents,” said the CDE.
He asked any parent who might have been asked to pay any money to have their child admitted to junior secondary to provide names of such schools for action to be taken. “Principals charging parents will be forced to refund the money and risk further action being taken against them for flouting the government policy,” warned Muriuki.
Speaking during a consultative public Baraza convened by Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr. Eddyson Nyale at Moi’s Bridge, Soy Sub County, Muriuki however expressed regret that 1190 pupils who were expected to join junior secondary have not reported to school while 2130 students expected to transition to form one were still at home.
Uasin Gishu county will receive Sh. 315million as capitation for 21,000 junior secondary school pupils, with the government allocating Sh. 15,000 as capitation for every pupil in junior secondary.
According to the CDE, 491 public primary schools and 181 private schools were approved to offer junior secondary education in Uasin Gishu county.
In his remarks, Nyale directed chiefs and their assistants, as well as village elders and Nyumba kumi officials to join hands with the ministry of education to ensure that the 1190 pupils expected to join grade seven and 2130 expected to join form one is accounted for and must report to school as expected.
“In line with the government policy of 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary school we will ensure all our children transition, we shall not entertain any excuses from any parents retaining school children at home,” said the county commissioner.
During the Baraza where more than 15 State corporations, semi-autonomous government agencies (SAGAs), and national government departments engaged the community on the services they provide, members of the public raised various issues ranging from poor education performance by some schools in the area, cases of insecurity and alcoholism as well as the need to increase the number of administrative units to enable them access government services conveniently.
Nyale who was also accompanied by the County Police Commander Moses Murithi underscored the importance of having consultative Barazas for wananchi to feel the presence of government.
Among the institutions that engaged the community in the services they offer were Kenya Revenue Authority, (KRA), Kenya university and colleges central placement services (KUCCPS), National Authority for the campaign against alcohol and drug abuse (NACADA), Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
Others were Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), and Kenya Fisheries Services (KFS) among others.
By Kiptanui Cherono
