The Government has insisted that no candidate who sat for the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) needs to miss out in joining Form One since their tuition fees have been fully catered for.
Nyeri County Director of Education Sabina Aroni says the government is working closely with local administrators in the area to ensure all former class eight pupils are enrolled in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive.
She has also dismissed claims that some parents have been unable to take their children to school due to lack of fees in light of the harsh economic times being experienced in the country and warned against hiding behind such excuses in order to deny children the right to education.
“The Government has paid school fees in all day schools so we should not have cases of children remaining at home under the pretext of lacking fees. The government has paid Sh22, 440 which is tuition fees both for the day schools and boarding schools. The students should therefore go and learn,” she told the press.
Nyeri has so far reportedly admitted 12,807 students into local public secondary schools out of those who sat for the 2021 KCPE examinations this year from the county. Out of this number, 5,922 are girls.
Recently, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha directed all county education directors to ensure a 100 per cent transition rate for all candidates who sat for their KCPE exams last year.
And to augment the transition process, the Ministry of Education has roped in Deputy County Commissioners, chiefs and sub chiefs to help expedite the process.
“We are doing this work with the sub county Director of Education but where their incidences of children who have been hindered from enrolling, the Deputy County Commissioners are supporting us,” added Aroni.
The education official has also disclosed that the government has purchased enough reading materials for all secondary schools in the country and therefore parents cannot cite lack of books as an excuse for not taking their children to school.
She has also advised those who were not in a position to afford proper school uniforms to improvise with what they have until they are in a position to buy appropriate school attire.
“Books have been supplied by the government and they are actually in excess, they have been oversupplied. And if you don’t have a uniform, let the student report to school in the clothes they are in. We have also directed School Principals to continue admitting students during the week even as the rest of the students proceed for their mid-term break,” she said.
Students are expected to go for their mid break beginning today after being in school for slightly over a month since reporting back for the first term.
