The Headmistress of Roysambu Primary School in Nairobi allegedly collected more than ten million shillings from parents when their children joined Junior secondary school.
Investigations by Hot News indicate that there are six hundred pupils who joined Junior secondary in January,2023 at the school.
“The head teacher employed divide and rule tactics to collect the money by using one of the parents in school. The money was collected from parents through the parent’s mobile money platform.” Said a parent who sought anonymity for security reasons.
Hot News is in possession of a text message indicating parents sent money through a popular mobile money transfer platform to a fellow parent on behalf of the headmistress.
The parent said old parents whose children joined Junior secondary parted with Shillings 13,100.
“I sent money via phone to a parent identified as Alice, Ksh 11,600 being school fees and an extra Shillings 1500 for evening tuition.” The parent told Hot News.
New parents parted with Shillings 22,000 for their junior secondary learners.
Contacted on phone without giving any evidence, the head teacher Nelly Njoroge said parents had agreed to pay the money voluntarily.
She could not produce evidence of a circular from the education ministry giving directives and creteria to collect such amount of money from parents.
She confirmed the school has six hundred students in Junior secondary.
“The number you have just sent me belongs to one of the parents. You know when parents agree on something when they are out there, go to all schools and tell me which school does not have a representative of parents for the whole school.” She said.
The Headteacher who has been in the school since 2017 said no official receipts were issued to parents and she could not explain to Hot News the reason behind this.
A visit to the school on April 27,2023 by Hot News during April schools holiday season, confirmed parents were busy looking for vacancies at the school.
The highest bidders got slots.
A teacher who only identified himself as Sam was the one selling vacancies
He said junior secondary was full to capacity and only the Headteacher can intervene.
“Just like you are looking for vacancies here, let us wait until the school opens and see whether some pupils will be transferred to other schools.” he said.
Charges to have your child join the school depend on whether or not you are a new parent.
It is also based on the class you want the child to be enrolled.
Parents have asked the basic education PS Dr. Belio Kipsang to intervene.
“She is running this school like a private entity while it is a public school with children from poor backgrounds.” Said another parent who sought anonymity for fear of intimidation.
Reached for comment, the PS did not comment on the matter.
He neither received phone calls nor responded to text messages from Hot News.