Congestion crisis surge in most schools amid Form One reporting

At least 1.2 million Form One learners are anticipated to report to their respective schools across the country beginning today amid majority of schools experiencing congestion.

Majority of principals claim that the amount of students placed in their institutions is above their capacity even as the government works to secure a 100 percent transition.

Principals want the government to release capitation funding for the first term immediately to help maintain the situation in public boarding schools, which have been mostly hit by the congestion crisis.

The National Parents Association chairperson, Silas Obuhatsa urged the government to provide infrastructure to alleviate congestion problems in schools.

Obuhatsa stated that students should not be sent home due to a lack of accommodations and urged management boards to devise a solution to curb the situation.

“We don’t want our children to be out of school. Principals of boarding schools should not sit and wait for admission days, point it out earlier. Principals should tell the government the number of children they have admitted, the number of beds and dormitories against what they lack, we need the statistics,” he said.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, had stated that the government would keep the capitation per student at Sh22,244 in all public secondary schools.

“Parents whose children are enrolled in public day secondary schools should not be charged any fees because the government is catering for all tuition costs amounting to Sh22,244,” he noted.

He urged parents to report any instances of students being turned away for failing to pay higher fees to the nearest education office for action.