As the new school year begins, parents across Kenya are facing heightened anxiety and stress. The joy of the December holiday has quickly given way to the traditional back-to-school hustle, with the financial burden being particularly overwhelming. Schools are set to reopen soon, but many parents find themselves scrambling to meet various school requirements for their children.
A major point of concern this year is the insistence from secondary school principals that parents clear Term One fees before the opening day. Several parents have expressed their dissatisfaction with the timing, particularly as many families are already burdened by the costs associated with the holiday season. One parent from Nakuru County shared frustration, stating that the focus should be on ensuring learning continues, not solely on collecting fees. They suggested that principals should have instead prioritized clearing outstanding fees from the previous term and allowed some flexibility with payments for the new term.
The situation is especially troubling for families in Western Kenya, where the practice of demanding full payment for Term One fees is being seen as a significant barrier to education. Parents are concerned that only those with financial means will be able to send their children back to school, leaving many students stranded at home.
In response, parents are calling on the Cabinet Secretary for Education to intervene and address the issue, urging the Ministry to ensure that schools are not overly strict about fees collection, especially given the financial challenges many families are facing. The absence of the usual Form One intake this year has only compounded the problem, as schools traditionally rely on these fees to sustain operations before capitation funds arrive.
Education stakeholders have pointed out that the Ministry of Education and the Treasury are aware of the challenges schools are facing and should expedite the disbursement of capitation funds to prevent further disruptions. Meanwhile, primary schools have also expressed concern, as the construction of Grade 9 classrooms is yet to commence, further complicating the start of the school year.
As parents continue to deal with the financial strain of back-to-school preparations, it’s clear that the education system must be more adaptable to the realities of Kenyan families.
