Parents Protest Fee Hike at Nakuru Girls High School Amid Concerns Over Mismanagement and Debt

Nakuru Girls High School is facing mounting criticism from parents following a sudden and substantial increase in school fees for the third term of 2024. The controversial fee hike, which raises the term’s fees by Ksh15,500, has sparked outrage among parents who argue that the increase, amounting to a 150% jump from the previously approved Ksh10,711 to Ksh26,211, places an unsustainable financial burden on families.

The fee increase was communicated through a newsletter dated July 31, 2024, which detailed that the increment was proposed by parents during an Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on July 19, 2024, and subsequently endorsed by the Board of Management in a meeting on July 26, 2024. However, parents have expressed skepticism about the authenticity of the proposal, alleging that decisions made during AGMs are often predetermined and manipulated, leaving them as mere spectators in the decision-making process.

Parents’ concerns extend beyond the fee hike itself. They have raised questions about the transparency and accountability of the school’s administration, particularly regarding the handling of funds collected for various projects since 2022. According to the parents, all students were required to contribute Ksh14,000 towards the construction of a perimeter wall in 2022 and an additional Ksh14,000 in 2023 for the construction of a school gate. Despite these contributions, parents report that the status of these projects remains unclear, and they are demanding a detailed account of how much was raised, how the funds have been spent, and the progress of the projects.

Adding to the parents’ frustrations is the fact that the funds for these projects were reportedly deposited into the school’s regular fees account rather than a separate project account. This has raised suspicions about the proper allocation and use of the money. Parents are also concerned about the impact of the fee increase on students who are on special scholarships, questioning how these students will manage to meet the new financial demands.

In their petition, parents emphasized that the fee hike could potentially deny underprivileged students their right to education, as enshrined in Article 53 of the 2010 Kenya Constitution. They are calling for more transparent and inclusive AGMs where genuine parental input is considered, rather than predetermined decisions being rubber-stamped by strategically placed participants.

The situation at Nakuru Girls High School is further complicated by revelations in the same newsletter that the school is grappling with a massive debt of over Ksh31 million. Parents have pointed out that the current outstanding school fees arrears stand at only Ksh2.7 million from a total of 2,032 students, suggesting that non-payment of fees by parents is not the root cause of the financial crisis.

In light of these concerns, the parents are demanding full transparency regarding the school’s financial situation. They want to know the exact amount of debt owed by the school, the breakdown of the debt over the years, the income and actual expenditure, and whether the school’s Board of Management approved expenditures that exceeded the school’s income. Additionally, parents are questioning whether the Ministry of Education was aware of the school’s overspending and the steps that will be taken to address the situation.

As the new term approaches, the conflict between Nakuru Girls High School’s administration and its parents highlights broader issues of transparency, governance, and the financial management of educational institutions. The outcome of this dispute will likely set a precedent for how similar situations are handled in the future, as parents across Kenya continue to demand accountability from school administrations.