SILAS OBUHATSA: Kenyan schools lack transparency, accountability

EDUCATION in Kenya remains cost-sharing, despite the government’s announcement of making it free in 2003.

Most of these promises are sometimes political, and once the government of the day takes office, it becomes difficult to implement due to the high cost, lack of preparedness and infrastructure.

The government has, however, managed to provide capitation to schools at least, easing the burden for parents.

On the other hand, parents must meet costs such as uniforms and stationery, among others.

However, there are major concerns over extra charges by schools.

For instance, recently a school in Meru asked students to buy a roll of barbed wire each for reporting to school late.

The administration failed to consider that the lateness could have been a result of transport delays or parents did not have money to set their children off in good time.

Other instances are where schools inflate budgets and ask parents to pay the difference.

While it is expected that parents meet some of the costs for their children’s education, the problem is the procedure on how these monies are collected.

For instance, it might be agreed during an AGM that each parent pays Sh1,000 per student. The school administration then goes ahead and changes this to  Sh10,000 without explanation.

Mind you, no receipt is issued for these payments, which leaves parents with questions as they continue to be asked for more money to fund school projects and other expenses.

Lack of transparency and accountability is a major problem in our schools, which must be addressed.Schools should stick to the amounts agreed with parents during meetings, issue receipts for every coin paid, and all extra charges must be approved by county directors of education and the Principal Secretary.

Schools should be subjected to formal requests to the Education PS who should either give a go-ahead for extra payments from parents or decline.

Without that, any extra charge on parents is illegal. Parents must also demand transparency and accountability, and be able to track school budgets. 

National Parents Association chairperson spoke to the Star