A lobby group called the Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) has raised major concerns just as parents and students prepare for the new school term starting Monday, April 28.
The group revealed that nearly 90 per cent of public schools are still illegally charging admission fees, which goes against the Kenyan Constitution.
In a press statement released on Sunday, April 27, EBWG outlined five major demands directed at several authorities, including Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.
They called on him to urgently stop the collection of illegal fees and ensure that parents and guardians are protected from financial exploitation by schools.
“The CS must move swiftly and punish school heads and county education officers who are found guilty of enforcing illegal charges,” part of the statement emphasized.
Parents Urged Not to Pay Unlawful Fees
The lobby also demanded that all parents refuse to pay these unlawful levies. In addition, they insisted that students who were sent home for not paying such fees must be allowed back into class without any conditions.
Another important demand from EBWG is for schools to publicly display the government-approved fee structures, which only include capitation fees, at all times. They stressed that schools that fail to comply should face strict penalties.
Concerns Over Education Privatization
EBWG went further to warn the government, saying, “The William Ruto regime must stop pushing the privatization of education.”
They urged the government to instead focus on properly funding public schools, covering essential needs such as learning materials, basic facilities, and co-curricular activities.
The group noted that without these actions, the burden of education costs would continue falling unfairly on parents, risking the future of many Kenyan children.
Shocking Findings From National School Survey
The demands from EBWG followed a survey they conducted between March and April 2025. The survey involved 370 public schools across primary and junior secondary levels.
The findings showed a worrying trend: despite the Kenyan law making basic education free and compulsory, many school heads continue to demand extra charges from parents.
Their survey revealed that school principals routinely ask for money for things like admission, desks, lockers, textbooks, reams of paper, development projects, remedial lessons, extra lessons, co-curricular activities, and even examinations.
The cost of admission fees alone ranged from Ksh500 to Ksh25,000, depending on the school’s location. Urban schools were found to charge the highest amounts.
Negative Impact on Students
The consequences of these unlawful fees are severe. The survey found that in 87.5 per cent of the schools, students who could not pay the demanded amounts were sent back home, putting many at serious risk of dropping out of school.
Most parents interviewed explained that they simply could not afford the extra costs, making education less accessible despite the promises of free learning.
Join Our Political Forum official 2025 WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
