The Ministry of Education has introduced a new directive setting a standard annual fee of Ksh53,000 for all boarding senior secondary schools across the country, ending the long-standing school-to-school fee variation.
The new structure, unveiled on Tuesday, November 4, will take effect in January 2026, marking a major shift in the country’s education financing model.
Previously, fees were determined based on each school’s infrastructure, facilities, and geographical location, but those categories have now been scrapped. The Ministry noted that the changes aim to promote equality and financial transparency across institutions.
Under the new framework, all schools will be re-registered as senior schools and classified only by ownership (public or private) and type (boarding, day, or hybrid).
Additionally, any institution seeking to charge extra levies must obtain written approval from the Ministry before implementing such charges.
According to the circular, every school must issue a comprehensive fee structure at the start of each term, detailing the cost of tuition, boarding, and meals. Schools are also required to publicly communicate official payment channels and deadlines to parents in advance.
The Ministry further clarified that Grade 10 learners will study seven subjects, including English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, and Community Service Learning as core courses, alongside three subjects chosen from their academic pathway.
Each student will attend eight 40-minute lessons per day, amounting to at least 40 lessons per week.
To enhance student welfare, the new guidelines prohibit boarding schools from sending students home unaccompanied after 9 a.m.
In addition, the government will roll out stricter oversight on school finances, requiring institutions to form audit committees to ensure accountability in the management of public funds.