Several School Heads to Lose their Jobs For Violating Listed Rules
School administrators, including headteachers and principals, will face stringent repercussions for extracting unlawful fees from parents or guardians. The Ministry of Education is poised to enforce authority over these prohibited practices following years of non-compliance by school heads.
According to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, the ministry is embarking on an initiative aimed at eliminating pervasive abuses within the nation’s basic education framework. Some of the egregious violations in the basic education sector encompass:
- Unlawful imposition of tuition fees
- Coercing students to repeat academic years
- Administering admission tests for new enrollees
- Implementing physical or psychological punishment on students
These stipulations are encapsulated within the proposed amendments detailed in the Basic Education Bill of 2024. Numerous educators have lauded the bill, recognizing its potential to positively impact school finances and teacher accountability.
As articulated in the proposed legislation, severe penalties, including fines up to Sh20 million for educators, administrators, or managers who breach established regulations, have been delineated. Moreover, this legislative proposal stipulates that school heads will be held personally accountable for offences such as levying tuition fees, conducting entrance exams for new students, and compelling students to repeat grades.
Furthermore, the bill stipulates that no child shall be deprived of education due to unpaid fees. It mandates that headteachers found guilty of charging tuition fees could face imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of Sh1 million.
Should this bill be enacted into law, numerous headteachers may find themselves in legal jeopardy for conducting admission tests, especially for new students, and for enforcing grade repetition. Consequently, those seeking to avoid sanctions must ensure that no child is prohibited from attending school due to the inability to pay additional levies.
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Several School Heads to Lose their Jobs For Violating Listed Rules