The Ministry of Education has dismissed reports claiming that boarding fees in public senior schools have been increased.
In a statement issued on 6 November 2025, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said there has been no revision of boarding fees or any other charges payable by learners in public senior schools.
Ogamba clarified that the current fee structure remains in force and parents should continue using the existing guidance from the ministry.
“Parents, learners, and the general public are hereby notified that there has been no revision of boarding fees or any other fees, payable by learners.
“The prevailing guidance from the Ministry of Education on the amounts payable as boarding fees will continue to apply,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary assured the public that the government will continue to meet its constitutional obligation of funding senior school education through capitation.
He confirmed that the approved capitation rate remains at Sh22,244 per learner per year.
Parents, learners, and the public were urged to disregard misleading media reports suggesting fee increments.
A section of the media reported on Wednesday that in new guidelines for transition to senior schools, all public boarding schools to charge standard annual fees of Sh53,000 shillings.l, especially for the inaugural competency-based curriculum class.
It reported that categorization based on infrastructure and location had been scrapped.
The Ministry outlined the learning structure for Grade Ten students as part of the ongoing rollout of the senior school curriculum.
Learners will take seven subjects, including core learning areas such as English and Kiswahili.
Mathematics will also be compulsory, taught as either core or essential mathematics depending on whether a student is pursuing STEM, arts, or humanities.
A new component, community service learning, will be introduced as part of the curriculum to enhance civic responsibility and practical engagement.
The other three subjects will vary based on a learner’s chosen pathway.
Under the new timetable structure, learners will have eight lessons per day, each lasting 40 minutes, making a total of 40 lessons per week.
Core subjects will be offered as single lessons, while the remaining subjects will include one double lesson each week.
