Parents To Pay More As Principals Propose New School Fee Structure

Senior secondary school principals have proposed a comprehensive review of school fees, citing soaring operational costs, delayed government capitation and increased demands brought about by the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum.

The school heads say the current financing framework, which has remained unchanged since 2015, is no longer sustainable and is threatening the smooth running of learning institutions across the country.

The proposal was tabled during the ongoing Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) conference in Mombasa, where principals from across the country raised concerns over the growing mismatch between the cost of providing quality education and the resources available to schools.

Under the proposed fee structure, students attending day secondary schools would pay Ksh37,675 annually, while learners in county boarding schools would be required to pay up to Ksh87,781 after factoring in government capitation.

The school heads argue that the revised fees are necessary to bridge the widening funding gap that has emerged over the past decade.

According to KESSHA, the government currently allocates Ksh22,244 per student annually through capitation. However, the association noted that the funds are often disbursed late, forcing schools to rely on debt and other emergency measures to sustain operations.

KESSHA National Chairman Willy Kuria said the existing fee structure was introduced in 2015 and has remained unchanged despite a significant rise in the cost of goods and services over the years. He maintained that schools can no longer operate efficiently under the current arrangement and called for urgent reforms.

“The current fees charged in secondary schools were set in 2015, about 11 years ago. It is therefore no longer possible to sustainably run our institutions under the existing framework,” Kuria said.

He revealed that studies conducted by the association indicate that the actual cost of educating a student in a national school has risen to Ksh110,025 annually. The cost for a learner in an extra-county school stands at Ksh105,866, while county schools require approximately Ksh87,675 per student each year.

School administrators pointed out that boarding institutions have been particularly affected by the rising cost of food, which remains one of the largest expenditures for schools

Prices of essential commodities such as maize flour, cooking oil, sugar and other basic supplies have increased sharply over the last decade, significantly raising the cost of feeding students.

“The movement in the price index of goods and services between 2015 and 2026 reflects a substantial increase in the general cost of living and, by extension, the cost of running educational institutions,” Kuria explained.

The principals further attributed the financial strain to the depreciation of the Kenyan shilling and escalating prices of educational materials and other inputs required for effective learning. They argued that these factors have widened the gap between government funding and the actual amount needed to run schools.

KESSHA also highlighted the additional costs associated with the implementation of Competency-Based Education (CBE), saying the new curriculum requires schools to invest heavily in specialized infrastructure, modern equipment and teaching resources.

According to the school heads, subjects such as music, electricity, home science, theatre and film demand practical learning tools and specialized facilities, yet the funding currently provided does not adequately cater for such requirements.

They warned that unless the funding model is reviewed, many institutions may struggle to effectively deliver the expanded curriculum and maintain standards of education.

The concerns raised by principals have also received backing from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), which warned that delays in capitation disbursement have disrupted normal school operations.

The teachers’ union noted that schools have increasingly found themselves unable to pay suppliers, maintain infrastructure and provide adequate learning materials on time.

The push by KESSHA is expected to reignite debate over the cost of secondary education in Kenya, with education stakeholders likely to engage the government on ways of ensuring schools receive adequate and timely funding while safeguarding parents from excessive financial burdens.

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