TSC cracks whip on Alliance Girls principal over illegal fees

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has taken action against the principal of Alliance Girls High School over allegations of charging unauthorised school fees.

This comes after an uproar in a case that has reignited concerns over rising costs in public education.

The Commission issued a show-cause letter to the principal, demanding an explanation within seven days over what it describes as serious violations of the law, including the imposition of illegal levies that more than doubled the approved school fees.

According to the letter, the school charged parents up to Sh120,179 far above the Sh53,554 approved by the Ministry of Education, raising alarm among parents and education stakeholders.

“While the principal, Alliance Girls High School, you presided over the implementation of unauthorized extra levies at the school, resulting to imposition of total school fees of Sh120,179 on parents and guardians which is beyond the Sh53,554 approved by the Ministry of Education,” the letter states.

The Commission further accuses the school leadership of adopting and implementing a budget containing “non-essential and unrealistic expenditure items,” some of which are now under scrutiny for unnecessarily inflating costs.

“You implemented the said fees structure without the approval of the Cabinet Secretary of Education contrary to Section 29(2)(b) of the Basic Education Act, 2013,” the TSC said.

The alleged violations also extend to the Basic Education Act, the TSC Act, and the Code of Conduct and Ethics for Teachers, placing the principal at risk of disciplinary action, including possible suspension or removal from office.

The case emerged following complaints from parents, triggering investigations by education officials in late April.

It has since drawn national attention, coming at a time when the government is intensifying efforts to enforce compliance with school fee regulations.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Monday issued a stern warning to school heads across the country, declaring zero tolerance for unauthorized charges.

“No principal has the authority to impose additional charges outside what has been approved by the government. This practice is illegal, punitive to parents, and undermines our commitment to equitable access to education,” said Ogamba.

He added that the Ministry has already dispatched field officers and sub-county education officials to audit schools and ensure strict adherence to government circulars on fees.

“We have directed all education field officers to carry out immediate audits in schools and take decisive action against any administrators found culpable. Disciplinary measures will be swift and firm,” he said.

The CS emphasised that the government has provided clear guidelines on school fees through gazette notices, and any deviation would attract sanctions.

Providing further details on the Alliance Girls case, Ogamba revealed that some of the budgetary items flagged during the inspection were not only excessive but also irrelevant to core learning.

“There are instances where budgets include items that are not essential to education. In this case, there was a proposal requiring parents to pay up to Sh26 million for a trip to Dubai. The relevance of such an expense must be questioned,” he said.

He warned boards of management against approving inflated budgets that burden parents, noting that any fee increment must receive prior approval from the Ministry.

“Where parents agree to a fee increment, the school and the Board of Management must seek approval from the Ministry. Without that approval, the charges remain illegal and will attract sanctions,” Ogamba said.

The crackdown comes amid broader reforms in the education sector, as the government works to ensure access and equity under the Competency-Based Education system. With transition rates from Grade 3 to Grade 7 at 100 percent and Grade 9 to 10 at 99.8 percent, the Ministry says maintaining affordability is critical to sustaining these gains.

“We have transitioned over one million learners. We must protect this progress by ensuring no child is locked out of school due to illegal fees,” the CS added.

TSC wants the principal to respond to the allegations within seven days.

“These allegations constitute a gross violation of the Basic Education Act, 2013, the TSC Act, 2012, and the Code of Conduct and Ethics for Teachers,” the Commission stated.

Parents, however, say the issue of hidden charges has persisted for years, often catching them off guard despite official guidelines.

“This is exactly what we have been complaining about. You plan based on what the government announces, then the school introduces extra charges without explanation. It is unfair and stressful,” said a parent with a child in the school.

Education analysts argue that the Alliance Girls case reflects a wider systemic problem, where schools impose additional levies under various labels—ranging from development fees to activity charges—placing a heavy burden on households.

“When schools impose illegal levies, the first victims are learners from low-income families. Some are sent home repeatedly, while others drop out completely. It undermines the goal of free and subsidized education,” said an education policy expert.

The incident has also sparked debate over accountability in school governance, particularly the role of boards of management in approving budgets.

Majani Baridi says weak oversight and limited transparency often allow questionable expenditures to pass unchecked.

“There is a gap between policy and practice. We need stricter monitoring, transparent budgeting processes, and real consequences for violations,” Baridi noted.

The CS noted that in future tougher stances, including increased inspections and plans to digitize school financial systems to enhance transparency and accountability noted that public education must remain accessible and affordable.

“Education is a right, not a privilege. We will not allow a few individuals to commercialize public education at the expense of Kenyan families,” Ogamba said. [Mike Kihaki]