Parents will from next year pay uniform school fees for all boarding senior schools across the country as the government moves to implement the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.
The Ministry of Education has released new guidelines that eliminate the old categorisation of schools and introduce a single fee structure aimed at promoting fairness and easing the transition to senior school.
According to the new Guidelines for Implementation of Senior School Education, learners joining senior school in January 2026 will pay Sh53,554 per year regardless of the school they are placed in.
The amount remains the same as provided in Gazette Notice No. 1555 of March 10, 2015. Previously, parents paid varied fees depending on whether a school was classified as national, extra-county, or county.
Day school students will pay Sh9,374 annually, while those in special needs institutions will pay Sh37,210. The government will finance each student under the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) programme at Sh12,870 annually, a decrease from Sh22,244.
Special needs learners will receive a higher allocation of Sh32,600 per learner.
“The school fees to be charged for all categories of boarding school shall for the time being remain at Sh53,554.00 (annually) as per the Gazette Notice No 1555 of March 10, 2015,” reads part of the guidelines.
The Education Ministry said the decision was informed by the need to ensure that all students, irrespective of their backgrounds, access affordable education.
It further indicated that a policy review could follow once the new system stabilises. “Future adjustments, if any, will be informed by the outcomes of the ongoing reforms and the country’s economic context,” the guidelines note.
The government’s move comes amid rising concern over increasing school-related expenses as the cost of living continues to rise. The guidelines also outline major reforms to prepare schools for the rollout of senior school education under CBE.
These include reorganising institutions based on the pathways they will offer — Arts and Sports Science, Social Sciences, or Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Senior school will cater for learners aged between 15 and 17 in Grades 10 to 12, forming the bridge between junior school and tertiary education. The ministry said schools must have suitable infrastructure such as science laboratories, art studios, sports fields, and digital learning spaces depending on their area of focus.
“MoE shall conduct a comprehensive mapping of schools to categorise senior schools based on the pathways and the tracks offered. An assessment of school infrastructure shall also be conducted to ensure that facilities are adequate and suitable for the pathways offered,” the report states.
The Teachers Service Commission will also adjust staffing to match the new system.
Teachers will be retrained to handle learner-centred approaches and will teach at least 27 lessons per week. School principals and their deputies will have fewer lessons to focus on leadership and management.
Each class will have a maximum of 45 students, while schools will operate eight lessons per day from Monday to Friday. Each lesson will run for 40 minutes, and subjects like Arts and STEM will have one double lesson weekly.
Physical Education will be taught three times per week and ICT twice.
Day schools will open at 8:00am and close at 3:30pm, with co-curricular activities running until 4:45pm. Learners are not to report before 7:15am. Boarding schools, on the other hand, must ensure learners report no later than 5:00pm and are not sent home alone after 9:00am.
The ministry also directed that schools provide strong guidance and counselling services to help students choose pathways aligned with their talents and interests. These choices will be based on the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results.
Schools will also be required to set up internal audit committees to monitor financial operations and ensure compliance with public finance regulations, enhancing accountability in the use of funds.
