State plans to roll out school fee payments on eCitizen from May 1

The government is gearing up to implement the payment of school fees through the eCitizen platform starting May 1, 2024, ahead of the reopening of schools for the second term.

This comes even as the court is expected to rule on its implementation on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

The details were revealed by Principal Secretary Julius Bitok of the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services during a session with the National Assembly Education Committee on Tuesday.

“The plan is to begin implementing the Presidential Directive on payment of school fees on May 1, 2024 (Second Term), subject to the lifting of the Court Order and adequate stakeholder engagement,” Bitok said.

According to the PS, 12 institutions under the State Department for Basic Education have already integrated with the eCitizen platform, offering 160 services.

Some of the institutions include; Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE), Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB), Kenya Institute for the Blind Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology in Africa, Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI), School Equipment Production Unit, Jomo Kenyatta Foundation and others.

He, however, noted that there are still some institutions that are yet to be onboarded, which include; teachers' technical training colleges, national schools, extra-county schools, and county schools.

The institutions yet to be onboarded are estimated to be approximately 12,000.

Additionally, five Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) under the State Department for Technical, Vocational Education and Training have joined the platform, providing 60 services, while 240 services are awaiting integration.

They are; Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority, Technical Vocational Education Training Fund Board, Curriculum Development Assessment and Certification Council, Kenya National Qualifications Authority and Kenya School of TVET.

Moreover, six agencies under the State Department for Higher Education and Research have been onboarded onto the eCitizen platform with a total of 58 services.

The Departmental Committee on Education and Research has met with Prof. Julius Bitok, PS State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services on the implementation of the Presidential directive on payment of school fees through the E-Citizen platform;#13thParliament pic.twitter.com/fVVsDHQufD

— NAssembly KE C'tees (@NACommitteeKE) April 16, 2024

Further, 41 public universities have been onboarded onto the platform, offering a total of 1,077 services.

The institutions include; Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Moi University, University of Eldoret, Karatina University, Taita Taveta University, Kirinyaga University, Egerton University, Maseno University, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Technical University of Kenya, Technical University of Mombasa and Pwani University.

Others are; Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, University of Kibabii, Masai Mara University, University of Kabianga, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Laikipia University, Garissa University, Multi-Media University, University of Embu, Chuka University, Tharaka University, Kaimosi Friends University, Alupe University, Mama Ngina University College, Tom Mboya University, Turkana University College, Koitalel Arap Samoei University College, University of Nairobi Enterprises, Open University of Kenya, and others.

Bitok emphasised that the payment of school fees on the digital platform will create convenience as the payment will be done at the comfort of their homes.

He added that it will also create transparency and visibility in fee (revenue) collection since the system dashboard will have a count and analytics of each student's payment history.

“Through the platform, we will be able to address issues of ghost students in schools as the systems will have real-time tracking of all students. It will also enhance decision-making and planning in the sector,” he said.

Further, payment of school fees in kind will also be monetized through the platform.

He assured that consultation between the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services and the State Department for Basic Education is ongoing to refine the strategy.