The Government of Kenya has revealed that it will track down and punish principals of secondary schools who are forcing parents to buy school uniforms from their schools or from their preferred dealers.
The Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang said that parents whose children will be joining Form One should be allowed to buy school uniforms from shops of their choice.
The government will work alongside the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and shall sanction anyone who charges extra levies that the government does not allow.
Kipsang said that some schools have separate accounts for school uniforms and force parents to deposit money for uniforms provided in schools.
He said that the sale of merchandise should be left to business people and schools should focus on their main duty.
He implored school administrators to allow parents to buy school uniforms in a competitive process. In his view, this will give them a competitive advantage.
During the Commissioning of the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, Kipsang said that many schools are exploiting the sale of uniforms to fleece parents.
He called on those responsible for ensuring the competency of students in their level of learning to do their job and leave other things to other individuals.
PS Kipsang assured parents that the government has recruited enough teachers to teach learners in Junior Secondary Schools and has trained 300,000 teachers in preparation for the roll-out of Junior Secondary Schools.
Kipsang warned school heads not to divert funds and stated that the government will keenly monitor the use of school resources.
The government has given girls’ education a priority with 55% of its funding being allocated to the education of the girl-child.
The PS also revealed that the Ministry of Education and other partners are trying to address regional disparities and target vulnerable and marginalized areas including informal settlements in urban areas.
The Kes. 1.1 billion Scholarship is set to benefit 3,000 students joining different schools across the country for the next four years. It will finance the learners’ tuition, shopping and transport, and other personal effects including pocket money.
The Chairperson of the Foundation, Jane Waruhiu said that since its launch 57 years ago, 12,000 students have benefitted from the scholarship and this is proof that the Foundation is committed to providing education to the deprived and vulnerable members of society.
She also said that the effects of COVID-19 have affected their effort to expand the scholarship to reach more needy students.