Government Cracks Down on Illegal School Levies.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has reiterated the Ministry of Education’s directive prohibiting school administrators from imposing unauthorised levies on parents, warning that disciplinary action will continue against principals who violate government regulations governing school fees and development project contributions.
The Cabinet Secretary issued the warning during the Mbiriri Comprehensive School Education Day held in Nyeri County on Saturday, July 18, where he emphasized that all public schools must strictly comply with the Ministry of Education’s established procedures before introducing any additional charges beyond the approved school fees.
Ministry Reaffirms School Levy Regulations
Julius Ogamba stated that several school principals had already faced disciplinary action after their institutions imposed illegal levies without obtaining the approvals required under Ministry of Education regulations.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, any additional charges must undergo the prescribed approval process before they can be collected from parents.
“Where that happens, and it is brought to our attention, we are now taking action against the principals. Unless the levy has been approved, gone through the required process, accepted by parents and cleared under ministry protocols, it should not be charged,” Ogamba said.
He noted that although schools may require additional resources to finance development projects, such contributions cannot be collected unless they have received the necessary approvals in accordance with Ministry of Education guidelines.
The Ministry of Education has maintained that school administrators must adhere to the approved fee structures and ensure that any proposed additional levies comply with the applicable regulatory framework before implementation.
Call for Dialogue to Address Student Unrest
In addition to addressing school levies, the Cabinet Secretary urged school administrators to strengthen engagement and dialogue with learners as part of broader efforts to address the causes of increasing cases of student unrest reported in schools across the country.
His remarks follow recent incidents of student indiscipline, including unrest at Nyabisase Mixed Secondary School in Kisii County, where students were involved in violence that resulted in the destruction of school property.
Ogamba stated that while those responsible for acts of violence would be held accountable under the law, the government would also seek to establish the underlying causes contributing to indiscipline in learning institutions.
“The law will take its full course on that incident. This time we need to go deeper and establish the root cause of these challenges because we do not want a situation where schools are experiencing indiscipline, or students are torching dormitories,” he said during an earlier engagement in Nyeri County.
The Cabinet Secretary indicated that addressing the root causes of student unrest remains a priority in efforts to enhance discipline and create a conducive learning environment in schools.
Mbiriri Comprehensive School Highlights Competency-Based Education
During the Education Day celebrations, Mbiriri Comprehensive School Board Chairperson Purity Ngina commended the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum, stating that it has transformed teaching and learning by enabling learners to demonstrate practical knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom.
Ngina observed that the curriculum has shifted the focus of learning beyond examinations by allowing students to present practical projects and demonstrate competencies that reflect their talents, abilities and acquired skills.
She noted that the Competency-Based Education curriculum provides learners with opportunities to apply classroom knowledge through practical learning experiences and competency demonstrations.
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Ministry Maintains Enforcement of Approved School Charges
The Ministry of Education has maintained that compliance with approved school fee regulations and levy approval procedures remains mandatory for all learning institutions.
The Ministry further indicated that strengthening collaboration between school management, parents and learners, alongside strict enforcement of regulations governing school levies, remains part of ongoing efforts to improve the learning environment and reduce cases of student unrest in schools across the country.
Government Cracks Down on Illegal School Levies.
