CS Magoha Warns School Heads Against Sending Students for Fees, Says it is Illegal

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha has said learners will not be sent back to their parents for whatever reason when schools reopen.

According to the CS, school heads should not release learners from school adding that parents should report cases of teachers asking students to collect fees from home.

The CS who appeared before the National Assembly education committee on Wednesday also stated that parents should not be coerced to pay additional fees to facilitate the hiring of staff by school boards of management (BoMs).

The CS told parliament that the Ministry of Education policy requires that BOMs hire staff only when they have the capacity to pay.

In the sitting with ministry officials, members of the committee raised concerns relating to the shortage of teachers across the country.

KNUT secretary general Wilson Sossion also nominated MP, took issue with the sluggard deployment of teachers to schools.

Sossion accused the ministry of not taking the need for more teachers seriously. He demanded that there should be clear recruitment processes for both registered and unregistered teachers. 

"The Issue of Teachers' shortage in this country should be taken more seriously. If we are talking about free Education, we must cater to their needs by providing these learners with educators. And we must set out clear rules of remuneration, whether registered or not," held Sossion.

Education PS Belio Kipsang' who appeared with the CS before the committee said the ministry was keen on the progressive deployment of teachers, arguing that the process may appear slow but will eventually help contain the shortage.

The ministry officials appeared before the house to give a status update on Measures for the safe reopening of schools amid COVID-19.