As parents across the country continue to decry the hike in tuition fees following the resumption of studies, one school has offered a reprieve to the many who have been bearing the brunt of the increased school fees,

Rurigi Secondary School in Uasin Gishu has adopted a new mode of fee settlement, as parents and guardians are asked to offer goods and services that the school may require as a way of paying school fees for their children.

Parents hence being in all sorts of commodities such as foodstuff such as maize, beans, and cabbage, animal feeds, construction material, and firewood as well as offer services such as construction work, repairs on school hardware such as desks, and chopping of wood, which are on-demand services required by the school.

This program has been running for years and the school administration expresses great confidence in its adaptation as parents have been able to keep their children in school while the school benefits from these services.

The school's principal, Edward Wanjala noted that the merits of the barter trade have caused a ripple effect in the performance of the students as their turn out to classes has been on an upward trajectory, and they are able to remain throughout the term without the fear of being sent home owing to fee arrears.

 He was speaking in an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday, May 10 where he stated that many parents in the region have been able to live their dream of educating their children with reduced expenses on their part, while at the same time helping the school develop tremendously in terms of infrastructure and the workforce.

The Deputy Principal echoed his sentiments, adding that the school's location is an added advantage as many parents in the region are farmers, which enables them to offer their bountiful harvests and firewood in exchange for fees.

She added that those who are not able to bring in commodities have secured jobs within the school, such as cooks, cattle herders, and security personnel among others, and their wages are used to pay for school fees.

"Many parents are farmers, with crops and trees planted on their farms. Firewood is something we use on a daily basis, so we decided that parents can bring them together with maize, and animal feed because the institution has cows that we are rearing," the Deputy Principal remarked.

Parents who have benefitted from the program lauded the move, expressing their relief from the financial burden that many across the country are going through.

"It has really eased the burden for me. Instead of being paid at the end of the work, the money will be used to cover my child's education at the institution," Spencer Olaka, a wielder at the school stated.

" I have brought close to 4 lorries of building blocks to the school and my child has never been chased for school fees," another parent stated.

This is a notable stride in helping parents educate their children, echoing Education Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha's call to school heads to refrain from sending children home and accept any amount of money from less fortunate parents as long as they find ways to offset the ballooning amounts.