Ruto Issues Fresh Directives on School Fees and Uniforms as Grade 10 Transition Continues
President William Ruto has issued new instructions aimed at ensuring that all learners transitioning to Grade 10 report to school without further delay, even if they are unable to raise school fees or buy new senior school uniforms.
Speaking on Thursday, January 22, during the Nyota Capital Disbursement event held in Meru County, the President expressed concern that a significant number of students were still at home due to financial challenges faced by their parents.
He noted that the cost of fees and uniforms had prevented many learners from reporting to their assigned senior secondary schools.
To address the situation, Ruto directed that all Grade 10 students be allowed to report to school wearing their Junior Secondary School (JSS) uniforms as temporary arrangements are made. He stressed that no child should miss school simply because their family is struggling financially.
“I have been informed that many students have not reported to school due to lack of school fees and uniforms. I direct parents, chiefs, and all administrators to ensure that every child reports to school regardless of these challenges,” the President said.
He further instructed education officials and school principals across the country to implement the directive immediately. According to the Head of State, learners should be admitted without discrimination as schools work with parents and the government to resolve outstanding issues related to fees and uniforms.
President Ruto also revealed that the government has already released Ksh43 billion in capitation funds for the first term of the academic year. With this funding in place, he said there should be no excuse for any child to remain out of school.
“In any case, chiefs and assistant chiefs must ensure that every child goes to school as early as tomorrow because the government has provided all the money needed to educate our children,” he added.
Latest figures from the Ministry of Education indicate that about 85 per cent of eligible learners have already reported to senior secondary schools. However, approximately 15 per cent are yet to enroll. Earlier reports had shown the transition rate at around 75 per cent, a situation that prompted the government to launch intensified mop-up exercises across the country to identify and enroll learners who had not reported.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has also weighed in on the matter, explaining that the transition gap is largely linked to parents seeking changes in school placements under the new Competency-Based Education system.
Speaking during an interview on KTN, Ogamba said many parents requested transfers from the schools their children were initially allocated to, preferring alternative institutions they considered more suitable.
“There are several factors contributing to the 15 per cent transition gap, with one of the main issues being parents requesting to move learners from the schools they were assigned to different schools,” he explained.
The CS acknowledged that while most of the transfer requests were genuine and understandable, the process caused delays as families waited for approvals or new placements. He noted that this largely explains why some learners did not report to school on time during the initial phase of the Grade 10 transition.
The government has since assured parents that efforts are ongoing to resolve placement concerns while ensuring that every eligible learner is enrolled and learning without further interruption.
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