Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has dismissed claims that government capitation to public schools is insufficient, instead blaming school administrators for inflating learning costs through unauthorized and unnecessary levies.
Speaking during the Second National Education Conference in Nakuru on Thursday, the CS maintained that the government already caters for key educational needs including teachers, infrastructure, and textbooks, while parents in boarding schools only pay the approved annual fee of KSh53,000 for meals and accommodation. According to Ogamba, the real problem lies with some school heads and Boards of Management who introduce questionable expenditures that burden parents.
The CS revealed that quality assurance officers uncovered shocking budget items in certain schools, including KSh26 million allocated for trips to Dubai, KSh13 million for speeches during prize-giving ceremonies, and KSh1.3 million for what was described as “spiritual nourishment.” He cited one institution where school fees allegedly rose from the approved KSh53,000 to nearly KSh120,000 due to such additions.
Ogamba termed the practice as exploitation of parents and warned that the Ministry of Education will no longer tolerate rogue administrators who violate ministry circulars on school fees. He said Boards of Management have now been directed to thoroughly scrutinize school budgets to ensure only essential learning-related expenses are approved.
The CS further warned that principals found imposing illegal levies will face disciplinary action, adding that Members of Parliament have already agreed to support the ministry in enforcing the regulations. He criticized schools that repeatedly charge parents for projects such as buses year after year, questioning the accountability behind such expenditures.
The tough remarks by the Education CS come at a time when many Kenyan parents have continued to complain over the rising cost of education despite government promises to make public schooling affordable.
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