Government has allocated Sh56b set for free education

Teachers and parents join Kiki Mumbi in celebrations at Gilgil Hills Academy – Gilgil. She scored 432 in the KCPE exams. [Kipsang Joseph|Standard]

Parents whose children will be joining Form One in day schools next year will not pay a single shilling, as the Government rolls out the free secondary school education programme.

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i yesterday said the Jubilee administration had already set aside Sh56 billion for the ambitious programme.

“From January, no child will be required to pay any tuition fees in any public secondary school. This must be seen as a big scale-up from the free day learning programme that has been running in all public secondary schools,” said the CS.

Free education for students in day secondary schools was part of the pledges made by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto as they sought votes before the August 8 General Election.

Speaking during the release of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam results, Dr Matiang’i said the release of funds was a fulfilment of the promise Uhuru made to Kenyans.

“The Jubilee government is committed to ensure that every child has access to education at all levels. We must not forget that the Government now pays examination fees for candidates in all public and private primary and secondary schools,” he said.

According to guidelines released by the Ministry of Education early this month, the Government will now pay Sh22,244 for each day school student per year.

This year, each student received Sh12,870 per year from the Government and each parent is required to pay Sh9,374 per year in fees. 

School uniform

Next year, parents will only be required to buy school uniform, meet lunch costs and boarding levies that will only be reflected in fees structures. 

Last year, Matiang’i told Parliament that county education officials would take full responsibility of schools in their regions that charge illegal fees. 

According to the guidelines signed by Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang, parents will have to clear all fees balances for continuing students that accrued before January 2018. 

The document says the Government will take care of all the vote heads in day secondary schools. 

This means teaching and learning materials, repairs and maintenance, local travel and transport, and all school administrative costs will be paid for fully by the Government. 

Electricity, water, activity fees, personal emoluments, medical costs and insurance will also be paid by the Government.