Monday, January 2, 2012

Teachers’ unions warn school fees will rise


By Augustine Oduor

Parents will be forced to dig deeper into their pockets as they send their children back to school on Tuesday.
Secondary and primary school head teachers have warned that the effects of the harsh economic times may be passed to parents if the Government does not institute plans to cushion schools from inflation.
Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) and the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) officials said money allocated per child must be revised upwards to reflect the cost of living.
The officials warned even as Education PS James ole Kiyiapi said on Sunday the Government would send free primary education and the free secondary education cash to schools this week.
Prof Kiyiapi said the money was factored in the Budget and will be processed this week and sent to schools immediately.
Since 2003, each primary pupil has been receiving Sh1,020 every term while since 2008, secondary students have been getting Sh10,265.
The Government has been silent on revision of school fees as stakeholders made frantic pleas.
Receive money
Last year, the Government and teachers’ unions clashed over the immediate release of the funds.
Kessha national chairman Cleopas Tirop said the cost of foodstuff and learning materials has doubled and noted cash sent to schools is not enough.
He said the Government must compare the cost of items under the current market prices to establish the real value of every shilling sent per student.
"Every price unit has more than doubled. Next term, each student should receive money based on the price index of commodities. This means that the amount to schools should be doubled," he said.
Kepsha National Chairperson Joseph Karuga said each pupil, starting this term, should be allocated Sh7,250. He said Sh1,020 is no longer viable to run a school.
The two officials said heads may be forced to pass the high cost of running schools to parents next week to sustain learning.
Last term, the Government released Sh7 billion to cover term two arrears and third term several weeks after stakeholders made frantic cries over biting inflation.
Sh2.6 billion went towards tuition payment and another Sh4.6 billion catered for operational costs in schools to benefit 1.8 million students. Each student received Sh4,055 to cater for second term fees and arrears of first term.
Meanwhile, Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) have requested a one-week extension of the opening date.
Set date
Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misore said opening schools immediately after the holiday would inconvenience parents and learners because of travel hitches.
"They would have been given a week for travel preparations and other logistics that may not be possible with the set date," said Misore.
Knut secretary general Okuta Osiany said the opening date comes so soon after end month and New Year festivities. Tirop, however, defended the date noting that schools should open early because this is an election year.
A statement posted on Government official communication website declared Monday a public holiday.
"Because January 1, 2012 is on Sunday, the Government declares Monday January 2 a public holiday," read the statement.

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