Questions Parents Should Ask Before Paying Any Tech School

Kenya has a growing number of tech training programmes. Some are excellent. Some are empty promises wrapped in a nice website. As a parent, you cannot tell the difference by looking at the landing page. Every school claims to be the best. Every school promises transformation. Every school has a stock photo of a happy student.

The difference shows when you start asking questions. A good school answers confidently and specifically. A bad school gets vague, changes the subject, or pressures you to "secure your spot" before you have time to think.

Here are 15 questions you should ask any tech school before sending them a single shilling via M-Pesa. I will tell you what a good answer sounds like and what should make you walk away.

1. "What exactly will my child learn, week by week?"

Good answer: A specific breakdown. "Week 1 to 2 covers HTML and CSS. Week 3 to 5 covers JavaScript. Week 6 to 8 covers React." Named technologies, clear progression, tangible milestones.

Red flag: "We teach coding and web development." If they cannot name specific technologies and a timeline, the curriculum may not exist in a structured form.

2. "How many projects will my child build? Can I see examples from past students?"

Good answer: "Students build 6 to 8 projects. Here are links to projects from our last cohort." If they can share live links to deployed student projects, that is the strongest possible proof of quality.

Red flag: "We focus on concepts rather than projects." A coding school that does not produce project portfolios is teaching theory without practical application. That does not get anyone hired.

3. "What technology stack do you teach?"

Good answer: Named technologies relevant to the current job market. JavaScript, React, Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL, or similar. At McTaba, we specifically teach the African Stack: M-Pesa Daraja API, WhatsApp Business API, and USSD development alongside standard full-stack skills.

Red flag: "We teach the latest technologies." Which ones? If they cannot name them, they may not have a fixed curriculum.

4. "Who teaches the classes? What is their background?"

Good answer: Named instructors with verifiable experience. "Our lead instructor is [Name], a software engineer with 5 years at [Company]. They have built [specific products]." Even better if you can find them on LinkedIn.

Red flag: "Our instructors are industry experts." This means nothing without names and backgrounds. Ask for specifics. If they cannot or will not share instructor profiles, ask why.

5. "What is the student-to-instructor ratio?"

Good answer: A specific number. "We have 1 instructor per 15 students" or "Our cohorts are capped at 25 students with 2 instructors." Smaller is generally better because students get more individual attention.

Red flag: "We take as many students as possible." This often means overcrowded cohorts where individual students get lost. Revenue is the priority, not student outcomes.

6. "Can I talk to a graduate of your programme?"

Good answer: "Absolutely. Here is the contact of two graduates who agreed to speak with prospective families." Connecting you with real graduates is the ultimate proof of confidence in their programme.

Red flag: "We cannot share student contacts due to privacy." Every school can ask graduates if they are willing to be references. If none are willing, that tells you something about their experience.

7. "Do you guarantee a job after graduation?"

Good answer: "No. We prepare students thoroughly, build their portfolio, and support their job search. We do not guarantee jobs because that would be dishonest. No programme can control whether a company hires a specific person."

Red flag: "Yes, we guarantee 100% job placement." This is almost certainly a lie. Ask for the contract that backs this guarantee. Ask what happens if your child does not get a job. If the guarantee evaporates under scrutiny, it was marketing, not a promise.

8. "What do your graduates do now? Where do they work?"

Good answer: Specific examples. "Three graduates from our last cohort work at [companies]. Two are freelancing. One started their own project." Real names, real companies, verifiable if you want to check.

Red flag: "Our graduates work at top companies." Which companies? Doing what? If they cannot name any, the claim is hollow.

9. "What exactly does the fee include?"

Good answer: An itemised breakdown. "The fee covers all instruction, mentorship, project reviews, career support, and access to course materials. You provide your own laptop and internet."

Red flag: "The fee is KES X." With no breakdown. Ask: are there additional charges for materials, exams, certificates, or career services? Hidden fees are common at programmes that advertise a low headline price.

10. "What is the refund policy?"

Good answer: "If a student withdraws within the first [1 to 2] weeks, we refund [percentage]. After that, the fee is non-refundable." A clear, written policy that gives your child a window to discover the programme is not right for them.

Red flag: "No refunds under any circumstances." Things happen. Your child might get sick. There might be a family emergency. A school that offers zero flexibility is telling you that once they have your money, they do not care about your situation.

11. "Can I pay in instalments?"

Good answer: "Yes. We offer monthly M-Pesa instalments." This shows the school is thinking about accessibility. At McTaba, the KES 120,000 fee can be split into payments that align with the training period.

Red flag: "Full payment required before the start date, no exceptions." Schools that demand full upfront payment and resist any flexibility should explain why. Sometimes there is a legitimate reason. Often there is not.

12. "Is the programme full-time or part-time? What are the hours?"

Good answer: Clear schedule. "Full-time: Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, for 4 months. Part-time: evenings (6 PM to 9 PM) and Saturdays, for 6 months." Your child needs to know exactly when they are expected to be available.

Red flag: "It is self-paced, you go at your own speed." Self-paced is not a bootcamp. If a programme calls itself a bootcamp but has no fixed schedule, no live instruction, and no cohort, it is a collection of videos with a premium price tag.

13. "How are students assessed? How do you know if they are learning?"

Good answer: "We review projects, conduct code reviews, and run regular assessments. If a student is falling behind, their mentor reaches out to create a catch-up plan."

Red flag: "We trust students to learn at their own pace." No assessment means no accountability. Your child could fall behind for weeks before anyone notices.

14. "What happens after the programme ends? Is there ongoing support?"

Good answer: "We provide career support including CV reviews, mock interviews, and access to our alumni network. Graduates can reach out for advice and mentorship after completing the programme."

Red flag: "The programme ends on day X and you are on your own." Career support after graduation is when students need help most. A school that cuts off contact on graduation day has no stake in your child's success.

15. "Can I visit the school or join a trial class?"

Good answer: "Yes. You are welcome to visit, sit in on a session, or your child can try a free introductory workshop." Confidence in their product means openness to scrutiny.

Red flag: "We do not allow visitors or trial sessions." Why not? What are they hiding? A school that will not let you see the product before you pay is asking for blind trust. Trust is earned.

We wrote this checklist, so it is only fair we answer it ourselves.

Our curriculum is published. 26 weeks, three phases, named technologies, week-by-week breakdown. Read the full version in our guide on what your child learns in 26 weeks.

Students build 8 production-grade applications. We can connect prospective families with past graduates willing to share their experience.

Our instructors are named on our website with their backgrounds. Our cohorts are small.

We do not guarantee jobs. We guarantee structured training, project output, and career preparation. What your child does with those tools is up to them.

The fee is KES 120,000, payable in M-Pesa instalments. It covers everything. No hidden charges for materials, certificates, or career support.

We also offer the Tech Foundations course at KES 2,999 as a low-risk way to test whether coding suits your child before committing to the full programme.

Ask us every question on this list. We will answer all of them. If any school refuses to, spend your money somewhere else.