Gov’t increases grant to secondary students, maintains fees ceiling

The government has increased the grant offered in the free-day secondary school learning programme by Ksh2610.

Speaking while announcing the form one selection on Tuesday, Education Cabinet Secretary said the amount, which increased from Ksh10,260 to Ksh12,870, would gradually rise to cater for the total schooling at the secondary level.

At the same time, the CS said that school fees in secondary schools would remain within the ceiling set by the government through Gazette Notice No. 1555 of March 2015.

“As guided by a Presidential directive of 19^th August 2016, fees for 2017 shall remain at the ceilings set by the said Gazette Notice. Further, school fees should be appropriately spread throughout the year in the ratio of 50-30-20 for First, Second and Third terms respectively,” he said.

The CS mandated regional coordinators and county directors of education to ensure that the directive is adhered to and punish those who fail to comply.

“The officers should employ all sanctions including barring any defaulting principal from being a signatory to school accounts,” he added.

The education CS advised parents to pay the exact amount fees provided for in the Gazette Notice and report any cases of additional charges to their respective Regional Education Coordinators and County Directors of Education.

“Boards of Management in schools are expected to run schools using fees set within the set ceilings and should institute suitable austerity measures to ensure that the cost of education remains affordable to all parents,” he said.