More than 200,000 junior secondary school children are yet to report to school, according to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu.
He noted that the Ministry is collaborating closely with the County Commissioners, local chiefs and their assistants, village elders, and Nyumba Kumi officials to ensure that all students arrive at school on time.
The CS instructed parents to let their children who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education last year and were admitted to Form One but have not gone to their various schools report immediately.
“More than 200,00 junior secondary school students have not reported to school,’’ Cs Machogu said.
He went on to say that most day secondary schools are government-funded, and parents are not expected to pay for anything except optional lunch.
He asked all parents and guardians of Grade 7 learners to ensure the children report to school, stressing that it’s compulsory, in line with the government’s 100 percent transition program.
“I want to clarify that Junior Secondary School is free and compulsory. No Principal, School board, PTA or any other person is allowed to come up with unauthorized levies in the name of registration fees,” CS Machogu stated
The CS also stated that all students in Grade 7 in public schools will be given a text book for each of the core study areas at junior secondary school, as well as any optional subjects they choose.
He stated that by the end of the activity next week, a total of 17,893,270 copies of learners’ books and 423,514 copies of teachers’ guides will be distributed.
“The government of Kenya has disbursed a total of Sh3,164,365,856 billion which has purchased all the required books for Grade seven which again are free for all public Junior Secondary learners, and we have adequate books that will be given to each student,” he said.
I’m a parent in certain public school in Taita Taveta Kasigau and I have a child who has joined JSE.
I want to thanks the Goverment assertion for the 100 per cent transition and the Ministry of Education fraternity, lead by able Minister Hon. E Machogu, for the policies formulation and oversight when it comes child’s rights to education.
Recently as parents we were very encouraged by your directives that children should be allowed to join junior secondary without hindrances of such like; school uniforms, developments fees and so on but unfortunately we’re still asked to pay for
Term 1 Ksh 10,000
Term 2 ksh. 8,800
Term 3.ksh. 7,700
Total. Ksh. 26,500
This is beside government’s payout of Ksh 15,000 per pupil, uniform and exercise books.
Some parents are giving up taking thier kids to grade 7 because of this burden putting into consideration some families are surviving with one meal due to current drought situation.
Kindly CS Hon Machogu, note this with concern and intervene.
I thank you in advance.