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Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has announced the dispatch of teams nationwide to investigate Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) that are imposing fees on parents.
According to Machogu, JSS education should be free, and no parent should be required to pay for their child's enrollment in a public JSS institution.
"I have constituted a team that will go around the country because there are a few con people who want to go against government directives that no fee should be charged at JSS level," said CS Machogu.
He emphasized that the government has allocated Sh7.6 billion for Junior Secondary Schools, with Sh16 billion directed to secondary schools and Sh4.7 billion to primary schools.
Machogu warned that any individuals attempting to charge fees would be sent home, stating, "I won't allow the President to fire me because of a few who don't want to do their work as instructed."
Over the next two weeks, Machogu plans to visit the 28,000 JSS schools nationwide with his team to investigate institutions charging parents school fees.
He assured, "I will personally go around the schools to ensure the government's directive is adhered to in the whole country."
Additionally, Machogu emphasized that parents should not be compelled to buy new school uniforms for their JSS learners.
He stated, "If the parent is unable to buy a new uniform, the learner should continue using the uniform they had in Grade 6 until the time the parent can afford a new uniform."
These statements were made during his appearance with President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Nakuru County for the official commissioning of Gilgil Technical and Vocational College.
The leaders also inaugurated the Jitume Laboratory in the institution, a Sh60 million project constructed by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with NG-CDF.
