As schools reopen for third term on 25th August 2025, thousands of children will remain at home, not because they lack interest in learning, but because their parents cannot pay the illegal fees demanded by public schools, a new report reveals.
A nationwide survey by the Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) of 270 parents across 47 counties has laid bare the crisis: 90 percent of public schools charge illegal levies, ranging from Sh500 to Sh25,000, despite the constitutional promise of free education.
The consequences according to the report, Sixty-five percent of schools regularly send children home for unpaid levies. The findings further reveal that, 40 percent of primary pupils are out of class, while 45 percent of junior secondary learners risk dropping out permanently. Only one in four children sent home ever returns, even after parents scrape together partial payments.
“Education has been turned into a profit-making venture for unscrupulous individuals while denying children their basic rights,” EBWG said in a statement.
Safety at risk
EBWG warns that profiteering also undermines student safety. They cite the Endarasha Hillside Academy fire, which killed 21 pupils, as an avoidable tragedy caused by corruption and the absence of safety audits.
“Our investigations reveal that schools consistently operate without proper safety audits, while money meant for safety equipment is systematically stolen,” the group noted.
Funding gaps fueling corruption
Since 2003, schools have received just Sh1,420 per primary pupil and Sh15,042 per junior secondary student annually far below the real cost of quality education. EBWG argues that this chronic underfunding has forced schools to exploit parents through illegal levies.
At the same time, according to the report , hurried curriculum shifts from 8-4-4 to CBC and now the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system have been rolled out without adequate planning, teacher training, or infrastructure, deepening the turmoil.
Universities in crisis
The study also reveals that the rot extends to tertiary education. EBWG points out that the government’s new funding model has left most students burdened with unsustainable loans. The High Court has already declared the model unconstitutional.
TSC accused
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has been accused of shielding headteachers implicated in financial crimes and safety violations, allowing schools to operate with impunity.
EBWG concluded: “The government is fully aware of these violations yet chooses inaction, making it an active participant in this betrayal of Kenya’s children.”
