💰 Publication Fees Policy

1. Fee Structure Overview

Education Tomorrow operates a transparent hybrid funding model designed to make scholarly publishing accessible while maintaining editorial quality and operational sustainability.

2. Article Processing Charges (APCs): NONE

Education Tomorrow does NOT charge Article Processing Charges (APCs). There are no fees for:

• ✅ Peer review coordination and management
• ✅ Editorial processing and correspondence
• ✅ Publication of accepted articles
• ✅ Open access (all articles are freely available)
• ✅ Color figures, images, or graphics
• ✅ Supplementary materials or datasets
• ✅ Unlimited article length (within reasonable limits)

3. Manuscript Administration Fee (MAF)

A one-time, non-refundable Manuscript Administration Fee (MAF) of USD 25 applies at the time of submission for independent submissions (outside of conference proceedings).

3.1 Who Pays the MAF?

3.2 What Does the MAF Cover?

The USD 25 fee supports essential administrative operations:

• Initial manuscript screening and quality check
• Plagiarism detection using Turnitin or equivalent software
• Peer review coordination (assigning and managing reviewers)
• Editorial correspondence throughout the review process
• DOI registration with Zenodo
• Indexing preparation (DOAJ, Google Scholar, etc.)
• Digital archiving and long-term preservation
• Communication and technical support

3.3 When is the MAF Paid?

The MAF must be paid at the time of submission through the integrated payment gateway in the OJS submission portal. Accepted payment methods include:

• PayPal
• Credit/Debit Card (Visa, Mastercard)
• Bank transfer (for institutions preferring invoicing)

4. Other Fees: NONE

Education Tomorrow charges NO additional fees for:

• ❌ Submission fees (beyond the USD 25 MAF for independent submissions)
• ❌ Page charges
• ❌ Language editing or proofreading fees
• ❌ Color charges for figures or images
• ❌ Membership fees
• ❌ Print subscription costs (print versions available separately on Amazon)
• ❌ Supplementary file hosting
• ❌ Fast-track or expedited review

5. Waivers and Discounts

While the USD 25 MAF is minimal, waivers may be considered on a case-by-case basis for authors from:

• Low-income economies (as classified by the World Bank)
• Lower middle-income economies experiencing significant economic hardship
• Demonstrable financial need (students, early-career researchers, unfunded research)

How to Request a Waiver

Authors seeking a waiver should submit a brief request to journal@kipchumbafoundation.org at the time of submission, including:

1. A statement of financial need
2. Evidence of country classification or other circumstances
3. Institutional affiliation (if applicable)

Waiver requests are reviewed confidentially and do not affect editorial decisions.

6. Transparency and Editorial Independence

• The MAF is clearly stated on the journal website and in author guidelines
• Payment of the MAF does NOT guarantee publication
• Editorial decisions are made independently based solely on scholarly merit, originality, and methodological rigor
• Reviewers and editors are NOT informed of payment status or waiver requests

7. Funding and Sustainability

Education Tomorrow is primarily supported by the Kipchumba Foundation, which covers the majority of publication costs, including:

• Server hosting and technical infrastructure
• Editorial management and staff salaries
• Long-term archiving and preservation
• Indexing and visibility efforts

The MAF represents a small contribution to administrative costs and helps ensure the journal's long-term sustainability without imposing financial barriers to publication.

8. Payment Process

1. Register on the OJS platform: https://journal.kipchumbafoundation.org
2. Submit your manuscript through the submission portal
3. Pay the USD 25 MAF (if applicable) via the integrated payment gateway
4. Receive confirmation and manuscript tracking information
5. Track your submission through the review process via your Author Dashboard

9. Refund Policy

The MAF is non-refundable as it covers immediate administrative costs (plagiarism screening, initial review, correspondence) incurred upon submission. However, in exceptional circumstances (duplicate payment, technical error), refunds may be issued at the discretion of the editorial team.

10. Comparison with Other Journals

11. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the USD 25 fee a publication charge?

A: No. It is a one-time administrative processing fee that covers manuscript handling, not publication. Publication is free for all accepted articles.

Q: Will paying the fee guarantee my article is published?

A: No. All manuscripts undergo rigorous double-blind peer review. Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit, regardless of payment.

Q: Can I get a waiver?

A: Yes. Waivers are available for authors from low-income economies or those with demonstrable financial need. Email your request to journal@kipchumbafoundation.org.

Q: Do conference presenters pay any fees?

A: No. Authors presenting at Kipchumba Foundation conferences publish free of charge with no MAF or APCs.

12. Contact Information

For questions about self-archiving or repository policies, contact:

Education Tomorrow
Kipchumba Foundation
Email: journal@kipchumbafoundation.org
Website: https://journal.kipchumbafoundation.org