The Ministry of Education has announced new fee guidelines that will see all senior secondary schools in Kenya charge a uniform annual fee of Ksh 53,554 beginning January 2026.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the standardization follows the ministry’s implementation framework for senior schools under the competency-based curriculum (CBC).
“The school fees to be charged for all categories of boarding schools shall, for the time being, remain at Ksh 53,554 as per the Gazette Notice No. 1555 of March 10, 2015,” read part of the guidelines.
According to the Ministry, schools must adhere strictly to the approved fee structure and seek written consent from the Cabinet Secretary through the County Education Board (CEB) before introducing any extra levies.
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Each school will be required to issue parents with an official fee breakdown covering vote heads such as tuition, meals, and boarding.
The new policy further directs that schools must provide official receipts for all payments and allow instalment plans upon mutual agreement with parents.
Boards of Management (BoMs) will oversee the proper use of collected funds and submit annual financial reports to the Parents’ Association (PA) and the Ministry.
Additionally, schools are encouraged to support needy learners through bursaries and scholarships while ensuring capitation funds are used strictly for tuition subsidies. Under the Basic Education Act (2013), no student should be sent home for failing to pay boarding fees.
The Ministry also released new classroom schedules for Grade 10 learners. Students will take seven subjects—four core and three elective—attending 40 lessons weekly, each lasting 40 minutes. Lessons will run from 8:20 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., with breaks structured for student well-being.
Teachers will handle a minimum of 27 lessons per week, teaching at least two subjects within their specialization areas.
Over 1.12 million students who sat for the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) have already selected their senior schools, categorized into four clusters—national, extra-county, county, and day schools.
The standardized fee structure marks a major milestone in the rollout of senior school education, aimed at promoting equity, transparency, and accountability across the country’s education system.
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