The government has moved to standardise senior school charges after the Ministry of Education formally published a new fees framework aimed at stopping extra levies in public schools and giving parents clear guidance on what they are required to pay.
In a gazette notice dated Friday, February 6, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the revised fees will apply across all public senior schools offering education under the Competency-Based Education system as well as the 8-4-4 curriculum.
The notice outlines how much the government will fund per learner and clearly separates costs to be met by parents, with special focus on boarding and special needs schools.
The new framework, issued under the Basic Education Act, covers Day Senior Schools, Boarding Senior Schools under two different cost limits, and Senior Schools for learners with special needs. The ministry said the structure is intended to end uncertainty, bring uniformity, and prevent schools from charging outside the approved limits.
In Day Senior Schools, parents will not be required to pay any fees, as the government will fully meet all approved costs. Each learner will receive Sh22,244 in government funding.
This includes Sh4,144 allocated for tuition, Sh1,500 for activity fees, and Sh2,000 for medical and insurance cover.
Additional allocations include Sh200 for SMASSE, Sh9,400 for administration and other vote heads, and Ksh5,000 set aside for maintenance and improvement.
For Boarding Senior Schools, the government will continue to cover tuition and other learning-related costs, while parents will meet boarding expenses. Schools that had previously been cleared to charge up to Sh53,554 will now have a total annual fee of Sh75,798. From this amount, the government will pay Sh22,244 per learner, leaving parents to contribute Sh53,554.
In schools that were earlier capped at Sh40,535, the total annual cost has been set at Sh62,779. The government contribution remains Sh22,244, while parents will pay Sh40,535.
Under the new fees breakdown for boarding schools, parents will pay Sh25,385 for boarding equipment and stores, Sh12,900 for other vote heads, Sh250 for activity fees, and Sh2,000 for maintenance and improvement. Tuition will be fully funded by the government.
The ministry also released a separate fee schedule for Senior Schools serving learners with special needs. The total cost per learner has been set at Sh70,764 per year. The government will meet Sh57,974 of this amount, while parents will contribute Sh12,790, mainly to support boarding equipment and maintenance needs.
The special needs allocation includes Sh4,144 for tuition, Ksh23,220 for boarding equipment and stores,Sh5,000 for maintenance and improvement, Sh9,400 for other vote heads, Sh1,500 for activity fees, Sh2,000 for medical and insurance, Shh12,510 in top-up support, and Sh200 for SMASSE.
“This fee structure shall take effect from 5th January 2026. Schools shall spread these fees over the three school terms at the ratio of 50:30:20,” CS Ogamba directed.
He also cautioned public schools against charging tuition or introducing any additional levies outside the approved structure, warning that such practices will not be allowed under the new framework.
