What a head teacher must do when a child stops coming to school
Basic Education Act, 2013 · sources read 3 Oct 2026
When a pupil stops attending school, the head teacher must look into why. If there is no good reason, the head teacher must give the parent a written notice to comply with the law and report the child to the County Education Board.
- Where
- The child's school (head teacher); then the County Education Board
Steps
- The head teacher looks into why the child is missing school. A parent can explain the reason to the head teacher.
- If there is no reasonable ground, the head teacher issues a written notice to the parent to comply with the Act.
- The head teacher submits a report on the child to the County Education Board.
Watch out
- A parent who, without reasonable cause, does not comply after the head teacher's written notice commits an offence: a fine of up to KSh 500,000, up to 2 years in jail, or both.
- The notice and report apply only where the head teacher finds no reasonable grounds for the absence.
Who this covers
- Every pupil in a basic education school who fails to attend
Official sources (1)
- Basic Education Act, 2013 (No. 14 of 2013), version as at 31 December 2022 new.kenyalaw.org · read 3 Oct 2026