Government reiterates order to admit Grade 10 learners without uniform

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok in class with learners. /FILE

The government has stepped up enforcement of a directive allowing Grade 10 learners to enroll in senior school even if they cannot afford the prescribed uniform, insisting that no child should be turned away over dress requirements.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, in a circular to regional and county directors of education, ordered immediate compliance with the presidential directive and warned that principals in public senior schools who refuse to admit learners without uniforms will face disciplinary action.

Bitok said the ministry had received growing complaints from parents about schools defying the order.

“The ministry notes with concern that parents have expressed frustrations with school requirements and guidelines that undermine these explicit legal provisions. This has resulted in restrictive market options and exploitative pricing of school uniforms,” reads the circular dated February 2.

This is the second warning from the government since President William Ruto directed school heads to enroll Grade 10 learners with or without uniform or school fees until parents are able to meet the costs.

Despite earlier instructions, some schools have continued to enforce strict uniform policies, prompting renewed intervention from the ministry.

On January 26, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba also cautioned principals against sending learners home, saying those found to have ignored the directive would face tough administrative sanctions, including dismissal.

“If, for example, you have admitted 700 students and then you have four or five who have not paid fees or do not have school uniforms, these four or five cannot make it impossible for you to run the school,” Ogamba said.

"Should we find any principal who has returned a child home for the reason of not having paid school fees or not having a school uniform, action will be taken through the employer, TSC, including dismissal from their jobs,” he added.

The enforcement push comes amid evidence that the cost of education remains a major barrier for families transitioning learners to senior secondary school.

A recent Infotrak Research survey released on January 29 found that 39 per cent of respondents cited a combination of school fees and uniform costs as the biggest challenge.

Thirteen per cent said school fees alone were the main obstacle as the 1.13 million learners enrolled for senior school.

The poll, conducted between December 2025 and January 2026, showed smaller proportions—two percent each—cited inadequate learning materials, psychological stress or anxiety, and poor facilities, infrastructure, and staffing.

Nineteen per cent said they lacked adequate information or guidance on the new system, while an equal share said they were unaware of the challenges facing learners and parents.

Bitok directed county education officials to ensure schools are fully informed of the guidelines and to identify non-compliant institutions for disciplinary action.