Cabinet Secretary for Education Prof George Magoha has directed heads of primary schools to stop charging parents fees for internal examinations.
The directive was issued on Thursday when the CS appeared before the National Assembly Education Committee and termed the fees as illegal.
In his speech, CS Magoha revealed that this is already catered for in the Sh. 35 that is annually issued per learner to ensure the facilitation of examinations.
“I have issued over 30 verbal and written directives to stop the illegal charges and now the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should deal with the issue. Some teachers have already been interdicted,” said Magoha.
Besides, CS Magoha has revealed that public schools have been issued with two laptops to facilitate the printing of examinations.
“Schools have received two laptops each via the Digital programme, and headteachers are encouraged to offer them to teachers to use them to type internal examinations,” said the CS.
CS Magoha revealed this information while responding to a question that Kilifi North’s Member of Parliament Owen Baya posed regarding the criteria that headteachers use to shoulder the charge on parents to cater for internal examinations.
The Members of Parliament revealed that at the moment, many schools are charging fees for internal examinations.
Magoha also revealed that the government disburses Sh. 1,420 per pupil to all registered public schools.
“Funds are disbursed to individual schools’ bank accounts in three tranches. Half of these funds are disbursed in term One, 30 per cent in term 2 and 20 per cent in term 3. These funds are intended to cater for internal examinations among other needs, said CS Magoha.
Magoha also directed headteachers not to send learners home for failing to pay school fees.
Regarding extra charges’ approval by Boards of Management, the CS said that this should only be on a voluntary basis.