The Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha warned head teachers against imposing unwarranted demands to students .
Cs. Magoha sent out a stern warning to school heads,thus accusing them of denying deserving students admission because of random items that are not approved by the ministry.
Among these items include : exercise books, novels, class readers or set books, mathematical sets, atlases, photocopy papers and foolscap.
A part from the above items, Magoha also imposed a ban on schools asking learners to report with items that are not academic related among them hockey sticks, machetes (pangas) and hoes/ jembes
According to Magoha, this move was in line with the government’s mandate to make basic education affordable.
The Cs. insisted that this is meant to protect parents from being overburdened by unnecessary expenses.
In his statement he indicated, “We are committed to ensuring that parents of learners who are joining Form One are not overburdened with unnecessary requirements that increase the cost of education. The idea here is to admit Kenyan child into a public school where secondary school is free.”
Professor Magoha also had stated that President Uhuru’s government had set aside money to fund education in public schools and that it would meet the expenses for the classroom tools.
Magoha further warned that any headteacher who will be caught turning away students because of the items would face the law.
In a statement the Cs. Indicated “Principals should therefore exercise precaution when listing requirements as part of the measures to the cost of education. Do not stop the child from going to the school, if you do, I am still the head of this ministry, I will come for you.”
