Why the Government has increased school fees starting 2023
Why the Government has increased school fees starting 2023
Due to the government of Kenya decision to end the subsidy given to mitigate the effects of corona virus and COVID-19 to economy; school fees costs will increase in January 2023. Parents who are already feeling the squeeze of the tough economic times will suffer greatly from the new changes as proposed and announced.
After the government discontinues fee subsidies for public schools, parents of secondary school-aged children will have to pay more in school fees starting in January 2023.
Instead of the current Ksh 45,000, students attending national and extra-county schools would now pay Ksh 53,554.
The fee has increased from Ksh35,000 to Ksh40,000 for those with kids attending public secondary schools outside of the towns of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Thika, and Eldoret.
Parents should account for additional costs ranging from Ksh5,535 to Ksh8,500 a sudden and huge increase even as harsh economic times continue to bite Kenyans. Children attending secondary special needs schools will now pay Ksh12,790 annually instead of the initial Ksh10,860.
There are also important changes to the academic calendar for the year 2023.
The first term will begin on January 23, 2023, and terminate on April 21, 2023, per the new calendar, while the second term will last from May 8 to August 11, 2023, followed by a two-week break.
The end-of-term holiday will take place between August 12 and 27, 2023, while the students will get a three-day half-term break from June 29 to July 2, 2023.
Third term will begin on August 28 and last until November 3, 2023.
Education PS Julius Jwan said that the extended school calendar for 2023 will result in longer weeks as justification for the restoration from previous to the new and costly fee structure.
David Obuhatsa, the chairman of the National Parents Association, encouraged the government to take parental issues and economic challenges currently being experience across the country and by all citizens into consideration.
