A civil society lobby has sounded the alarm over what it calls the “systematic collapse” of Kenya’s education sector, pointing to corruption, illegal levies, and underfunding as schools prepare to reopen for third term on Monday, August 25, 2025.
The Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) says the Education Ministry has failed to rein in administrators who impose illegal charges on parents. According to the group’s latest survey, nine out of ten public schools are demanding unlawful admission fees ranging from Sh500 to Sh25,000, despite constitutional guarantees of free education.
EBWG Policy Adviser Boaz Waruku accused school managers of exploiting parents while government funding remains inadequate and delayed. “Current capitation rates—Sh1,420 for primary pupils, Sh15,042 for junior secondary, and Sh22,244 for senior secondary learners—are not only insufficient but are also released late, forcing parents to cover the shortfall,” he said.
The lobby wants Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to issue binding circulars with clear penalties for school heads who flout the law. It has also recommended quarterly audits of school accounts, transparent reporting, and refunds for families who have already paid illegal levies.
On safety, EBWG demanded stricter regulations and public audits following incidents like the Endarasha Hillside Academy dormitory fire, which killed 21 students. Investigations by the group revealed that many schools bypass safety audits, with funds meant for equipment routinely misappropriated.
EBWG also faulted the slow implementation of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER), urging President William Ruto to release a progress report and provide clarity on the true cost of rolling out Competency-Based Education (CBE).
“The system is teetering on collapse,” Waruku warned, “and only decisive action will stop education from turning into a business of exploitation.”
