The primary and secondary schools in the country are set to receive Sh 17.47 billion for the first term after the Ministry of Education announced to have released the amount just a day after Form One Students reported to schools.

In a press statement today, the Education Cabinet Secretary   Professor George Magoha said Sh2.62 billion of that amount will be distributed to the learners in primary schools while those in secondary schools will receive Sh 14.85 billion to ensure smooth learning in all public schools in the first term.

“With the release of the capitation funds, principals are advised to keep all their learners at their respective schools to ensure no part of class time is lost during the shortened academic calendar,” said Prof Magoha.

Consequently, Magoha urged school principals to have dialogues with the parents of learners with fee balances to find amicable solutions of clearing arrears instead of sending them away calling upon school heads to strictly adhere to the new school fees guidelines issued by the ministry warning them on imposing additional fees.

The new revised academic year’s fees by the ministry allows students to pay less keeping in mind they will be in school for a short period.

In the 2021 school calendar, the school fees for the national schools were reduced by Sh8,500 and extra county secondary school fees by Sh5,500 meaning that learners in national schools will pay Sh45,000 while those in extra county schools will pay Sh35,000. However, the government will pay a tuition fee of Sh22,244 for each student.

On matters concerning Form One reporting, the CS urged parents and other stakeholders to ensure all students report to their secondary schools.

The academic calendar of schools across the country were interrupted after Kenya confirmed its first Covid-19 case last year and as part of measures to contain the spread of the virus, schools remained closed for a period of nine months.

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