More than half of Dertu Girls students are not in class due to unpaid fees

Students of Dertu Girls with their teacher in past event.

By: Abdirahman Khalif

GARISSA—More than half of the student at Dertu Girls High School in Daadab constituency, Garissa county are not in class because they were sent away due to unpaid fees arrears. 

We understand that majority of the students hail from poor families dependant on sales and proceeds from livestock products.

Garissa County is among the areas hard hit by the drought where hundreds of livestock perished.

“The remaining livestock don’t cost much,” one parent we spoke with told us.

The school principal, Noor Adan said the school is running on credit, adding that operations could soon be halted.

‘’The school needs to run, we can’t function without these money.  The school owes some of the girls a lot of money,’’ the principal said

Students pay sh 40,000 as fees every year.

Parents are now appealing for help from well-wishers and the area elected leaders to come to their rescue.

“The principal’s decision to send my daughter home was wrong. Will she now stay home because we are poor? I am very sad,” Abdikadir Hassan, a parent to a form four student told Kulan Post on phone.

‘’I want to be a doctor and help my people. But I think my parents will not be able to afford that dream,’’ Samira Abdirahman, a student, said. 

In late last year, the government has disbursed Sh6 billion for the improvement of 2,500 schools in preparation of implementation of free secondary education.

The funds were to be used in improving infrastructure and expanding the institutions to accommodate more students.

These include construction of new laboratories, classrooms and dormitories in boarding schools.

In his December Jamuhuri Day speech, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the free secondary education was ready to be implemented although the circular is yet to reach schools like Dertu Girls where it is mostly needed.

Some of the girls will have to wait for that circular to resume classes, if they survive the numerous marriage proposals that is.