Good News To Parents Following MoE’s Responce Concerning Their Request To Be Provided With Direct Line For Reporting Illegal Fees
Following parents’ request to be provided with direct line to report any extra charges, the Ministry of Education has responded over the same.
Parents have now and again raised concerns over illegal levies referred to as ‘motivation fees’ in addition to school fees.
These illegal levies charged by schools and are not allowed since the government has not allowed.
This is comes after the Principal Secretary to the State Department for Early Learning and Basic Education Dr Julius Jwan issued a warning that the government will take action against government schools that sent learners home to collect teacher motivation fees.
The PS termed the practice unacceptable saying that the government will hold the perpetrators responsible for not reporting the cases.
Parents have been complaining for years but their complaints have been falling on deaf ears with teachers working together with board members to extort parents.
One of the parents in an interview noted that some representatives are part of the ‘motivation fees’ scheme without any shame.
“I once attended opening day in one of the extra county schools in Homabay County and the administration in conjunction with the parents’ representatives told us that we will pay whether we like it or not,” said the parent.
Schools have been charging illegal fees from parents with the pretext that their children will be given the best treatment once teachers are motivated. This makes desperate parents empty their pockets for unnecessary levies.
It has also been revealed that many learners are denied clearance and are told that they have to pay the motivation fees for them to be cleared.
Severally, Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof George Magoha has warned public schools that are not following guidelines the Ministry issued regarding school fees.
The CS also directed the county and sub-county directors to report schools that are charging illegal fees that are not in the admission letters.
The CS’s directives came amid concerns raised over some schools flouting the guidelines and still charging illegal levies which are overburdening parents and guardians.
Principals have also been reported to be forcing parents and guardians to only buy items from certain suppliers and instructing them to make the payments to schools leading to the schools charging up to twice the normal prices.
The Cabinet Secretary for Education warned that the government is keeping a close eye on proceedings and that this is to ensure no child is put at a disadvantage.
The following is the full statement from the Ministry of Education the direct line for reporting any illegal fees vevies may be provided in the near future after consulting the other education stakeholders.
