The Ministry of Education has dismissed claims that school fees for public secondary and senior schools have been increased, terming reports of a Sh9,374 hike as “false and misleading.”
In a statement issued on December 31, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said day secondary and C4 day senior school learners continue to pay zero fees under the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) programme, while government capitation of Sh22,244 per learner remains unchanged.
The Ministry categorically clarified that “there has been no increase in school fees for public secondary or senior schools,” following widespread reports suggesting parents would be required to pay an additional Sh9,374.
The Ministry stressed that such claims misrepresent existing policy and legal frameworks governing secondary education financing.
The statement traced the origin of the Sh9,374 figure to Kenya Gazette Notice No. 1555 of 2015, which initially required parents to contribute that amount for learners in day secondary schools, while the government provided Sh12,870 per learner annually.
However, the Ministry explained that this arrangement changed with the full implementation of FDSE.
“Following the full implementation of Free Day Secondary Education, the Government increased its subsidy to Sh22,244 per learner per year and removed any financial obligation on parents for tuition,” the statement said.
According to the Ministry, subsequent circulars operationalised the Gazette Notice by affirming that FDSE would continue with “zero tuition obligation on parents,” while government capitation would fully cover tuition-related costs.
These circulars also clarified that FDSE applies to all learners in public secondary schools, including both day scholars and boarders. Boarding learners, the Ministry noted, “only pay approved boarding fees and do not pay tuition fees.”
On boarding charges, the statement said the Gazette Notice set a maximum ceiling of Sh53,554, which was later operationalised through Ministry circulars and FDSE Guidelines issued on November 26, 2019.
Under the current framework, boarding schools in major urban centres may charge up to Sh53,554, other boarding schools up to Sh40,535, while Special Needs Schools charge Sh12,790. “These amounts have remained unchanged, and no school is permitted to exceed them,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry further assured parents that “learners in public day secondary schools and C4 day senior schools pay ZERO fees,” a position reflected in official joining instructions currently accessed by parents. It added that the transition from the former school classification system to clusters C1–C4 is “purely structural and does not introduce any new fees.”
Warning schools against imposing unauthorised charges, the Ministry said it had not issued any directive to increase fees and that any institution doing so “will face appropriate administrative and disciplinary action.”
Parents and guardians are urged to report any unauthorised levies to the authorities.
