Parents with children in public boarding senior secondary schools will from January 2026 pay a uniform annual fee of 53,554 shillings.
The new guidelines by the Ministry of Education mark the end of the traditional classification of secondary schools into national, extra county, county and sub county categories.
Under the new system all boarding schools will now charge the same amount regardless of location or infrastructure.
The ministry says the reform is designed to promote equity in access to education and to simplify the financial obligations of parents.
However, the change is expected to increase the burden on parents whose children previously attended county and sub county schools that charged significantly lower fees.
Education officials have described the standardisation as part of the broader transition to senior schools which will take effect in 2026.
According to the guidelines Grade 10 learners will take seven subjects. These include English, Kiswahili, mathematics, community service learning and three subjects aligned to their chosen career pathways in either STEM, arts or humanities. Learners will attend eight 40 minute lessons daily making a total of 40 lessons each week.
The ministry has also introduced new safety and administrative measures. Boarding schools will not be allowed to send learners home unaccompanied after 9 a.m. and must ensure students arrive in school before 5 p.m. Schools will also be required to establish internal audit committees to monitor financial performance and compliance with regulations.
Parents and student councils will play a greater role in school governance through representation in decision making structures.
The ministry says it will release placement guidelines for Grade 9 learners after the results of the national assessment are finalised.
