A teacher managing students in Kilifi County. KUPPET has criticised the High Court ruling on schools levy saying that it will cripple learning activities in schools. Photo: UNICEF Kenya.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), has criticised the High Court ruling on School levies, which declared the school levies illegal on a ruling made on Monday 16, as a move that will learning cripple activities in schools.
Speaking during an interview on Tuesday 17, Deputy Secretary General (SG) Moses Nthurima said many schools rely on levies to stay afloat due to delayed government capitation, in running various learning activities in schools.
“We cannot run schools without money, levying fees is there often following delays by government in submission of capitations for schools, and noticeable pending bills are usually in huge sums of money that are not remitted to learners. that is why schools levy some money that help in financing education. For schools to provide quality learning, there must be finances to foot the cost of delivery of quality education,” Nthurima stated.
Additionally, he explained that the heads of schools often follow the due processes before setting and implementing the levy, with consultations from the minister, education stakeholders and parents, as outline in the basic Education Act. He further stated that parents are always consulted in the process, making it a legal fee.
“The levying of fees is founded under Section 29 of the Basic Education Act, where schools are authorized by the Minister and education board to levy some fee. Whenever teachers and principals levy fees, they go through the parents and seek further authorization from the Ministry of Education,” he explained.
levies come in form of payments required by schools, often for specific purposes like covering operational costs, infrastructure development, extracurricular activities, money for exams, development projects, lunch programs, or remedial classes.
High Court stated that it will be deemed unlawful for a school to demand levies unless it receives approval from the Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba.
