Principals attending the annual Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) conference in Mombasa have urged the government to adopt a fixed three-year cycle for reviewing school fees and capitation, saying the current system fails to match rising operational demands in schools.

The call comes amid mounting concerns over inadequate funding and stalled promotions, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.

Addressing over 7,000 school heads during the close of the conference, KESSHA chairman Willie Kuria said many schools are struggling to stay afloat under a funding structure that has remained static despite the rising cost of living and running institutions.

"The government should have a policy which will ensure the distribution of capitation funds and fees per student payment reflects the country's state of economy," Kuria said as he delivered the resolutions from the week-long event.

The principals also committed to embracing flexibility and innovation in implementing the Competency-Based Education curriculum, especially with Grade 10 learners expected to transition to Senior School in 2026.

"The principals have agreed to embrace flexibility, creativity and innovation while implementing senior school pathways," he stated.

In a push to improve the career progression of school administrators, the principals also petitioned the Teachers Service Commission to create new job grades beyond D5, arguing the current grading system fails to recognise the full weight of their responsibilities and qualifications.

"TSC should expand job group from D5 to D7 and expedite promotion for acting principals who have served for more than six months," Kuria said.

The meeting also saw sharp criticism of the TSC’s decision to revoke the promotion of 1,864 principals serving in arid and semi-arid regions.

According to KESSHA National Secretary Abdi Noor Haji, the affected school heads had already undergone interviews and been promoted, only for the commission to later reverse the decision, citing a failure to serve the required three-year period in their new roles.

"This is demoralizing. These teachers were promoted to principal, senior principal and chief principal positions but their promotions were revoked," Haji said.

He expressed concern that schools in hardship areas continue to face severe staffing shortages, particularly in science and technical subjects, yet efforts to retain qualified teachers remain unsuccessful.

"The shortage of teachers in arid areas is worrying because there are very few science teachers and subjects like computer are not being taught in schools in ASAL areas," he said.

"We do not have computer science, home science, woodwork and others which makes us wonder how the children in these areas will be taught as we implement CBE," he added.