By Mandere Onyinkwa
Senior schools across the country have been directed to admit all learners transitioning to Grade 10 regardless of whether they have the required uniforms or have paid school fees, following a directive issued by President William Ruto.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the move is intended to ensure that no learner is locked out of school at the start of the senior school cycle due to financial or logistical challenges.
“Senior school principals shall forthwith admit all learners placed to their institutions,” Ogamba said, adding that students who have not yet acquired senior school uniforms should be allowed to report in their junior school uniforms as they make the transition.
The Cabinet Secretary further clarified that admission must not be tied to the immediate payment of school fees. He directed principals to rely on capitation funds disbursed earlier this month while allowing parents and guardians flexibility in settling household contributions.
“All learners shall be admitted to their respective senior schools without any condition as to the payment of school fees,” Ogamba said.
To address cases where learners may have failed to report by the January 21 deadline, the Ministry instructed junior and senior school heads to work together with Sub-County Directors of Education and National Government Administration Officers to trace affected learners and facilitate their prompt admission.
Ogamba also reminded school administrators and parents that the law prohibits the charging of admission fees in public schools and bars institutions from denying any child access to education. He warned that parents and guardians who fail to present their children for admission risk facing legal consequences.
“No child shall be denied admission to a public school,” he said.
The Ministry has further directed Sub-County Directors of Education to collect data on learners admitted without fees or in junior school uniforms and submit the information to the Ministry headquarters to guide monitoring and policy decisions.