Public primary Schools in Kabonyo ward charge illegal levies, parents claim.

By Dickson Odhiambo

February 15, 2019.

Public primary Schools in Kabonyo ward charge illegal levies, parents claim.

THERE is a huge cry from a section of parents across various schools of Kabonyo/Kanyagwal ward of Nyando Sub-county within Kisumu County about head teachers of public primary schools charging exorbitant illegal levies.

The parents who have talked to the media on condition of anonymity for fear of their children being victimized by the schools authorities claim that public primary schools within the said ward have come up with demanding illegal levies contrary to the Ministry of Education’s guidelines.

Addressing the press at Kabonyo/Kanyagwal Ward today, the aggrieved parents claim that some of the levies the schools there charge include sh 200 for exams on a weekly basis from class six, seven and eight in most primary schools.

They also claim that some schools also charge shs 100 for tuition every week per child, adding some classes pay between shs 20 and 30 being payment for teachers employed by the Board of Management.

Some of the parents are claiming that in some schools class eight pay exams fees worth sh 1,100 for buying exams papers from other counties.

They further claim that all these monies collected are not receipted at all in any of the public schools doing this.

Another serious claim a section of parents are putting across is that the pupils mostly this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams candidates normally go to schools as early as 5:00 am so as to attend an illegal tuition conducted.

 They add that the candidates always come back home as late as 8:00pm when they are released from school.

They further claim that the schools have demanded shs 300 towards the registration of this year's class eight KCPE Candidates and this too has not been receipted at all.

Other parents have also complained their kids being forced to repeat classes against the Ministry of Education directive that no pupil or student should be forced to repeat any class.

They have now appealed to the Government to ensure that they are rescued on the issue which they claim has made a number of their kids staying at home without going to schools due to lack of paying such levies.

“We would like the government to help us on this matter because a number of us parents are suffering when paying these levies which have been imposed on us,” they say.

Some of the public schools that the parents have mentioned include Odienya, Nyamrundu, Oseth, Kolal, Nyang’ande primary schools among others. 

Kabonyo/Kanyagwal Ward Representative Pete Oiko says he has indeed received complain about public schools charging illegal fees.

He says if there is need for some funds to be paid by the parents then the school committee should seat down and discuss this with all the parents so that they agree as stakeholders of that particular school.

He says public schools should never force pupils to repeat any class, adding that this is against Ministry of education’s policies.

Kisumu County Director of Education Isaac Atebe when contacted for comments on the matter did not reply to a short message sent to him by the Journalists.

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