LET PRINCIPALS DE-LINK UNIFORM FROM SCHOOL FEES SO AS TO ATTAIN 100 PERCENT TRANSITION

 LET PRINCIPALS DE-LINK UNIFORM FROM SCHOOL FEES SO AS TO ATTAIN 100 PERCENT TRANSITION

Uniform is an identity of a particular school or institution. But the issue of uniform has been added in school fees and it is hindering access to education. In the late 90’s,2000 and 2021, the issue of uniform was not in school fees and many students could access education.During the same time principals could allow a student to continue with education while putting on the uniform they came with, till they were able to afford new uniform.But it is not happening. But now days,heads of institutions have realized that uniform should be part of fees and it is denying poor students access to education. Many of secondary schools have imposed exorbitant charges for school uniform in the fee structure. Some  parents have taken to social media platforms to register their disapproval of the move by the schools to charge as much as Sh30,000 for uniform.
Some schools either referred the parents to select uniform distributors from where they are required to source the uniform for the new secondary school entrants. Also parents have complained that the costs of uniform are locking out thousands of students from education and turning into a real hurdle in the Education ministry’s push for 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary school.Some of the items listed in schools as part of the uniform have raised questions, as some prices are unduly exaggerated. The number of various items, such as trousers, skirts, shorts and blouses, required are in some cases too high. Why should parents buy some items from specific suppliers? The cost of uniforms ranges between Sh9,000 for day schools and Sh30,000 for boarding schools.A complete set of the same items could cost nearly half as much if parents were allowed to buy them from alternative sources rather than from a pre-approved list of suppliers. Some schools directed that the Form Ones would only buy the uniform at the school when they report.
The amount needed as uniform is more than the first term school fees set by the Education ministry for national schools. Wearing school uniform is strictly compulsory and every article of clothing must be of the correct color and school pattern labelled with student’s full name,reads one of the admission letters. Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KSSHA) promised that the issue of school uniform will be discussed during the headteachers’ annual conference in Mombasa. The conference ended weeks ago but no statement was issued about uniforms, why? This is exploitation to parents and makes poor parents poorer and others children not to report to schools. How can a parent be forced to buy blankets, mattresses, shoes from the school, whereas one can get them at a cheaper price? Some of the parents said that some of the items can be bought in open-air markets at lower prices, but school heads insist on purchasing the school uniform from the institutions, citing quality reasons. Some schools demand sportswear of Adidas brand, and a pair of black-laced shoes from Bata. 
A blouse that schools are selling at Sh600 each, costs about Sh350 in an open market, rubber shoes that parents will buy at Sh1,000 in particular schools would cost about Sh400 and Sh500 and for a fleece jacket some schools are charging Sh3,500. Some schools are overpricing the low-quality school uniform adding that schools are creating monopolistic arrangements leading to exorbitant prices of uniforms. Parents should buy school uniform where they prefer as long as it matches the school’s specifications. This is killing shopkeepers who specialize in selling school uniforms. Also, local tailors who make uniforms in rural areas are being denied revenue. Let the ministry of education intervene and stop principals from charging fee for school uniforms, so that many children can access education. This issue of uniform is hindering poor children from accessing education in Kenyan. In some countries children go to school without uniform. Kenya has ratified most international treaties that protect the right to education, which form part of the country’s laws. The Constitution of Kenya, in Article 53 (1) (b) state that every child has a right to free and compulsory basic education and Article 55 (a) the State shall take measures, including affirmative action programmes, to ensure that the youth access relevant education and training. Minorities and marginalized
groups under Article 56 (b) have a right to be provided with special opportunities in the field of education.
To give effect to the Constitution, the Basic Education Act (No 14 of 2013) has been passed into law to regulate the provision of basic education and adult basic education in the country. The Children’s Act also acknowledges and protects every child’s right to education. Other education laws guarantee the implementation of the right to education. Kenya recognizes that education is the key for empowering the most marginalized and vulnerable individuals
in society and make efforts on an affirmative basis to enable these individuals to best exploit their life-chances alongside their other Kenyan peers through primary, secondary and tertiary education.Therefore this issue of uniform included in fees will make Kenya not attain millennium goals and vision 2030.

By

Veronica onjoro

Director career education

onjoroveronica@yahoo.com

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