State pays fees to schools

SCHOOLS can expect in their bank accounts on Monday the Government’s component of school fees for the first quarter, says Education Minister Jimmy Uguro.
He said the Treasury Department yesterday paid out K122 million to schools.
Uguro said the Government tuition fee subsidy policy for this academic year would be around K486 million. The government tuition fee subsidy policy is to share the burden of school fees with parents.
It was the same amount allocated last year by the Government.
The policy has two components: a school operations and functional grant component of K389 million (80 per cent) and a commodity component of K97 million (20 per cent).
The Government’s contribution makes up 62 per cent of the total national education board maximum school fee costs. Parents will pay 37 per cent.
The remaining 1 per cent is to subsidise the flexible and open distance education (Fode).
He urged parents to do their part in preparing their children for the school year.
Uguro reminded schools not to send students home if their parents could not pay their fees at the start of school. Schools are allowed to collect project fees but must follow stringent approval guidelines.
Provincial education boards will set and approve the fees, but must not be above the maximum limit:

• elementary – K5;
• Primary – K7; and,
• High/secondary and vocational – K10.