As outrage grows over the Grade 10 placement process, one question dominates parent conversations across Kenya:
Is the so-called “commitment fee” even legal?
With some schools demanding upfront payments before confirming admission, parents feel trapped between losing placements and paying charges they were never prepared for. The controversy has exposed serious policy gaps, legal ambiguities, and accountability failures in the transition to Senior School under CBC.
What Exactly Is a Commitment Fee?
Schools describe the commitment fee as money paid to:
Confirm acceptance of a placement
Prevent students from declining slots later
Assist with planning resources
However, unlike tuition or boarding fees, the commitment fee is not clearly defined in official government documents, leaving room for confusion and abuse.
What the Law Says About School Fees
Kenya’s education laws are clear on one principle:
No child should be denied access to basic education due to inability to pay illegal or unauthorized fees.
Under public education regulations:
Schools must only charge approved fees
Any additional charges must be sanctioned by authorities
Parents must be informed in advance
Legal experts argue that any fee demanded outside approved structures may be unlawful.
Is Senior School Covered Under Free Education?
While Senior School introduces specialization pathways, it remains part of basic education.
This means:
Access should be protected
Charges must be regulated
Financial barriers should be minimized
Education lawyers note that introducing unregulated fees at this stage risks violating constitutional protections on the right to education.
