Students at Kanyamfwa Secondary School in Rachuonyo North Sub-County, Homa Bay County, will no longer have to worry about being sent home over unpaid fees after the Interior Principal Secretary pledged to clear the institution’s outstanding fee arrears.
Dr Raymond Omollo made the commitment during a resource mobilisation initiative at the school aimed at improving its infrastructure and learning environment. He also pledged support towards the institution’s development and education programmes.
“I have offered to clear the fee balances so that no child should be sent home. Let the children focus on their education,” Omollo said.
The school has fee arrears exceeding Sh400,000 among Form Four students, while learners in the lower classes and junior school have accumulated more than Sh200,000 in outstanding fees.
Omollo said the intervention was intended to ensure that students remain in class and concentrate on their studies, particularly candidates preparing to sit the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
He urged the candidates to use the remaining weeks to prepare adequately for their examinations and challenged them to repay the support from their parents, teachers and the wider community through strong academic performance.
The PS acknowledged the poor state of infrastructure at Kanyamfwa Secondary School, describing the condition as deplorable.
He, however, encouraged the students not to allow the school’s physical environment to undermine their determination to pursue education and achieve their goals.
“The state of this school is, for sure, deplorable. But that does not take away what you have in your brain. It does not take away the resolve that you have, and it does not take away the confidence that your parents and guardians have in you,” he said.
Omollo noted that education had enabled many leaders to advance despite studying in institutions with limited resources.
“There are those of us on this podium who went through the grounds of this school. Some of us went to schools that are probably not any different from this school, but because we were dedicated, today we can stand here and give back, contribute and also offer mentorship,” he said.
The PS emphasised the need for the government, local leaders, parents and the community to work together to transform the school and provide learners with a more conducive environment for learning.
He noted that Kanyamfwa has existed for decades and said its longstanding infrastructure challenges should be addressed to ensure that its students have the same opportunity to excel as learners in other parts of the country.
Omollo informed us that President William Ruto’s administration has prioritized education, the reason why the sector received the biggest share in the national budget.
The PS highlighted government measures to expand access to education, including the recruitment of additional teachers and reforms to higher education financing.
He said increased investment in education was intended to ensure that children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have access to teachers and opportunities to pursue further education.
The PS, who was accompanied by Homa Bay town MP Peter Kaluma and other local leaders, pointed to reforms in the education curriculum and higher education financing, saying students who qualify for university or college should have an opportunity to pursue their preferred courses regardless of their families’ financial circumstances.
“Education is the biggest equalizer. No child should miss an opportunity to be educated simply because the parents cannot pay,” Omollo said.
The PS urged students to remain focused on their education as the government, parents, school administrators and the wider community work to improve learning conditions at the institution.
He assured the school community that leaders would continue working with them to address infrastructure needs and other challenges affecting education in the area.
By Sitna Omar
