President William Ruto’s administration has demanded that all learners who are supposed to be in school should not be prohibited from classes because of their lack of school fees or learning materials.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Education announced a raft of measures to ensure seamless admission of students joining senior secondary schools following President William Ruto’s pronouncement.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, on Thursday, January 22, ordered the immediate admission of all Grade 10 learners to their respective institutions regardless of fee payment.
In the CS’ view, learners without the requisite senior school uniforms will be permitted to join their respective senior schools in their junior school uniforms.
“All learners shall be admitted to their respective senior schools without any condition as to the payment of school fees. Senior school principals shall optimise the use of the capitation funds that were disbursed,” Ogamba directed.
Measures taken
While addressing the media, he directed all senior school and junior school heads to immediately share details of learners who were yet to be admitted by January 21, 2026.
He also asked the school heads to work alongside Sub-County Directors of Education and National Government Administration Officers to trace such learners for prompt admission.
The CS whose mission is to see all learners who got secondary school admission letters join their respective schools directed the immediate revocation of admission fees for any public senior secondary school.
“In the same vein, in line with Section 34(5) of the Basic Education Act, 2013, no child shall be denied admission to a public school,” the CS affirmed.
“Any report of non-compliance with the foregoing directives shall be made to the nearest Education Office or National Government Administration Office for appropriate action in accordance with the applicable law,” he announced.
Ogamba’s directive comes just hours after Ruto directed the Ministry of Education to coordinate the immediate admission of all learners with fee problems and other challenges to senior schools.
Speaking during the Nyota Capital Disbursement event in Meru County on Thursday, January 22, the Head of State noted that no child should be denied access to education due to unpaid fees.
am informed that many students have not reported to schools due to a lack of school fees and uniforms. I hereby direct parents and every chief to ensure that each child reports to school regardless of these requirements,” Ruto said.
Grade 10 Admission Struggles
This comes even as many students across the country continue to endure days of uncertainty due to challenges in school fees and placement problems.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of learners were facing challenges due to wrong placements, with a majority lamenting over placement at distant institutions.
Beyond the prescribed requirements, parents also lamented extra charges by school heads, particularly on uniforms and beddings, with some revealing that they had to part with at least Ksh40,000 to purchase uniforms.
These incidents have forced many bright students who had been called to join national and extra county schools to shelve their plans because their families cannot raise the required amount of money.
