The government would be on the lookout to ensure that no child is disadvantaged in their efforts to access quality education
By Ivy Maloy
Boarding secondary schools to be abolished gradually as directed by the Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha announced rejecting a proposal for the immediate closure of boarding institutions. The Professor argued that it would be impossible to abolish the 4,000 boarding schools at a go, but the government will adopt a policy that will see new schools are day schools. This will eventually lead to an increase number of day schools.
“There is no plan to abolish them, but there is thinking in that direction. There has to be a gradual process. Maybe new start-ups schools will be day schools,” said Magoha. Several education stakeholders believe the abolition of boarding schools will end school unrest which have been on the rise for the past few years where secondary school students in boarding schools have burnt their dormitories and rioted. The CS insisted that every situation regarding boarding institutions must be looked at on its own merit.
“It has never been a policy to abolish boarding schools. It is not an issue to bother at the moment,” said the CS on Monday during a workshop for education officials in Mombasa. Meanwhile, the CS has said that the capitation of primary and secondary schools has been distributed ahead of next week’s opening for first term.
Schools went on recess for a week and are expected to open for the new term on July 26. Magoha said no pupil or student should be sent home for lack of school fees. He said the government would be on the lookout to ensure that no child is disadvantaged in their efforts to access quality education. He said the government would make sure it attains 100 per cent transition rate from primary to Secondary schools.
The CS said that all monies due to learning institutions has been disbursed with primary schools getting Ksh17 Billion and Secondary Schools Ksh59.5 Billion. “Money for the first academic term will be available as soon as Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) is open. Primary education is free and compulsory, while in secondary school, 75% of the school fees is catered for, with the remainder, being lunch and boarding fees, offset by parents,” Magoha said.
SOURCES