The National Parents Association (NPA) has strongly opposed a proposal by secondary school principals to increase school fees by up to Sh43,000 annually, arguing that the move would place an unbearable financial burden on households already struggling with the rising cost of living.
The proposal, presented by the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) during its annual national conference in Mombasa, seeks to revise the current school fees structure that has remained unchanged since 2015.
If approved by the Ministry of Education, parents with children in national schools would pay Sh87,781 annually, up from the current Sh53,554. Fees in extra-county and county boarding schools would rise from Sh40,535 to Sh83,622, while parents of learners in day schools would begin contributing Sh7,675 per year — a cost currently fully covered by government capitation.
Parents, however, have rejected the proposal, insisting that the government should increase education funding instead of transferring operational costs to families.
The push for higher fees comes as school heads cite growing financial pressure facing learning institutions. According to KESSHA, schools had by mid-2026 received only 56 per cent of expected annual capitation funds, creating a funding gap that has affected operations.
Principals also point to rising costs of food, electricity, fuel, learning materials, and staff-related expenses. Additionally, the continued rollout of Competency-Based Education (CBE) has increased demand for specialised facilities, equipment, and instructional resources.
The proposal now places the Ministry of Education at the centre of a growing debate between sustaining school operations and protecting families from additional financial strain.
Source Attribution: Nation Newspaper