MPs have expressed dissatisfaction on the measures taken by the government to ensure liberalisation in the production of school uniforms.

In a meeting with National Assembly and Education CS Ezekiel Machogu, members of the National Assembly Implementation Committee faulted the ministry for doing little to eliminate a situation where parents are compelled to buy uniforms from specific suppliers.

The session chaired by Kajiado Central MP Memusi Kanchory said it is not enough for the ministry to continue issuing circulars on the issue they claim has offered avenue to fleece parents.

Kanchory said it is time the ministry makes it a policy to address the matter as opposed to issuing circulars.

Read also:

We Don’t Sell Uniforms and Have no Links With Uniform Sellers, Principals

Summarized Guide to Fill Your Online Wealth Declaration in TSC Portal using Mobile Phone

KNEC Warns Science Teachers, Centre Managers From Leaking KCSE Practicals

Inside The Approved 2023 KCSE Grading Structure

Centre Managers to Collect KCPE, KCSE Papers Twice a Day

MOE Warns Teachers Against Remedial Teaching, Illegal Levies

The Kajiado Central lawmaker was responding to a statement by Machogu that the ministry has issued circular to all school principals, cautioning against compelling parents to go to specific suppliers for the uniforms.

“A circular is not a policy, a circular is a communication of some information from the minister. You can set out a policy on standardisation and production of school uniforms in the country,” Kanchory said.

The CS was appearing before the committee chaired by Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala to appraise the committee on the action taken regarding Parliament’s resolution on standardisation and production of school uniforms.

“We have taken up the issue of school uniforms and issued a circular.  We have put in clear terms as a ministry that parents must have a leeway and we must liberalise this… It will be up to the parent to source it from wherever as long as it meets the requirements of the schools,” the CS explained.

“I know there are people who contravene the circulars and directives issued, but the ministry is clear on the uniform purchase. We have taken some action in areas where people have violated these instructions and the Subcounty Directors of Education are implementing these directives, they have clear instructions.”

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba who moved the motion also backed the formulation of a policy.

According to Wamuchomba, circulars are easy to ignore as opposed to a policy which is binding.

“My concern is the way the schools are playing around with the issue of uniform and creating a curtailed supply so that the demand can be higher and directed to one specific person. The issue of standardisation is coming in so that we do not struggle to know the right fabric…we have to standardise for us to be able to liberalise,” she said.

She added that many children from humble families will be forced to miss school because of uniform issues.

On standardisation, Machogu said it is a tall order owing to the various dynamics like weather and cost that would be incurred.

“School uniform has become some kind of tradition. Again, the climatic and weather conditions of this country vary from one place to another. If for example you go to a place like Timboroa where the temperatures can becomes so low and people required sweaters, the same may not be required in other areas like say Turkana,” he said.

Early this week, a section of parents, led by Gilgil MP Martha Wangari, raised complaints over exaggerated uniform prices by school principals and how schools con parents through uniforms.

It has emerged that some secondary school principals have turned uniforms for Form One students into a cash cow and are forcing parents to buy the kits at inflated prices in select stores.

According to sources, one of the reasons why this occurs in most schools is because the principals are under pressure from the government to stick to the official school fees policy, forcing them to craft ways of milking parents.

In response to the allegations, the Ministry of Education has termed the schemes as conspiracies that should stop. Principal secretary in the ministry of education, Dr. Julius Juan, faulted the school heads for insisting that parents buy uniforms from specific shops or from the institutions.

Read also:

Stop using Uniforms to con parents, Principals Warned

SRC On Spotlight For Missing Back-Up For Public Servants’ Salary Data

Plans Underway To Peg Tutors’ Pay On What They Teach And Workload

How The Government Allegedly Plotted To Fail Private Schools In KCPE 2020

Your policy on exam centres Unfair, Senate Summons KNEC, MOE

Registered teachers with C plain mean grade Barred From Updating their TSC Teacher Profile

All Registered Teachers to Update Their Online Teacher Profiles

Magoha To Face Summon Over Ban On Hiring Of School Buses

“Parents should not be forced to buy uniforms at specific shops. It is important to provide the colours and leave the parents to choose where to buy them from. These conspiracies should top,” said Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwann.

In some schools, parents are asked to pay up to Sh25,000 for uniforms, even as it emerged that the market price for the same items would be three times less in the open-air market. In addition, the uniforms money is paid in cash at the institution, which means no child would be admitted without getting the mandatory items.

A week after more than one million children reported to Form One, a look at some of the admission letters reveals huge costs for uniforms some which are more than the full fees for the term.

A well known school asked parents to pay an additional Sh17,000 to buy basic items for use in school.

“For uniformity and self esteem, well being of students, equipment for boarding will be provided in school at Sh17,000 to cater for cup, spoon, plate, bed cover, pillow, two pillow cases, bed, a mattress, two heavy duty blankets, two pairs of bed sheets and lockers,” reads the admission letter.