Parents from Wajir West can breathe a sigh of relief after the area MP Yussuf Faraha announced plans to release school fees through the NG-CDF kitty.
Starting this term parents with children in day schools will be required to pay Sh 1,500 per term for lunch down from 15,000 per year.
The announcement was made by Farah after a day-long consultative meeting with school principals and other education stakeholders.
The MP said the new arrangement will provide relief for thousands of families.
“The initiative will significantly reduce the burden on parents and provide the necessary resources for schools to provide quality education,” he said.
In Northeastern, parents usually sell their livestock to pay their children's school fees, however, most animals died following a prolonged drought which was followed by the recent Elnino rains, which has affected education in the region.
“We have made a deliberate effort to invest in this important sector and during my meeting with school heads, I assured everyone that my office together with my team is working to help parents ease their burden. This is one important sector that requires our total support,” he said.
He urged the school management to utilise the funds properly and ensure no student is sent home for school fees.
He thanked the school principals for their tireless work saying that they had made the region proud by posting good grades despite the numerous challenges.
School principals who spoke commended the MP's efforts which they said will go a long way in improving the quality of education.
“As we are aware schools re-opened three weeks ago. The tough economic situation has not made the situation any better. Many parents are struggling to raise school fees for their children. We want to thank the MP for coming up with this initiative,” Aden Khasim the principal of Wajir High School said.
“We believe this initiative by the area MP will go a long way in greatly improving the education standard in our schools."
Abdinoor Haji the principal of Sabunley Secondary School said they will ensure no student is sent home for school fees.
“Even as we thank the MP for this initiative, My challenge to fellow principals to commit themselves to see to it that our students stay in school and get the best education,” he said.
Abdullahi Ali, a parent to four students in different schools in the area, praised the initiative saying a huge burden had been relieved from their shoulders.
