Headache for parents, schools ahead of reopening next week

A student (right) at the Kisumu bus stop during a past school reopening. [Michael Mute, Standard]

Parents face a daunting task as schools reopen next week, burdened by fare hikes, the rising costs of living, illegal levies, and the need to purchase school items.

As some learners transition to new grades, schools will be welcoming a record 1.4 million others to Form One as from January 15.

While this surge is expected to put pressure on already stretched secondary school facilities, it is also the last year schools will experience such high admissions.

Next year, with the 8-4-4 system's collapse in primary schools, Form One admissions will cease meaning secondary schools will effectively remain with just three classes.

Parents, however, face the harsh reality of the cost of education. With the economy in a slump, National Parents Association chairman Silas Obuhatsa said many parents will struggle to afford hiked fees, school supplies, and other expenses.

With the new academic year, parents still need to purchase dictionaries, set books, extra uniforms, and revision books.

"Some parents have been forced to cut their spending on other basic needs to meet the school requirements in some institutions," Obuhatsa said.

The situation is further complicated by opaqueness in the fees payable in boarding schools with some school heads imposing unchecked levies which have tremendously pushed up tuition fees in boarding schools.

There are additional levies for remedial classes, teacher motivation programmes, examination fees and infrastructure. The extra levies remain a source of pain to parents. They had been outlawed by the government but school heads continue to defy the government order.

On Wednesday, the government announced that it had released over Sh31 billion of the Sh60 billion for school capitation.

In a post on X, Statehouse spokesperson Hussein Mohamed pointed out that the Treasury released Sh31.34 billion to primary, junior secondary and secondary schools under the 8-4-4.

The funds are distributed as follows: Sh4.74 billion will go to support the Free Primary Education programme, Sh7.60 billion for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and Sh 16.20 billion for Free Day Secondary Education. Also released is Sh2.80 billion for school examination and invigilation fees.

While release of the funds is a welcome relief for school heads, it is not enough in the face of all the socio-economic challenges.

In the recent past, schools have been sending learners back home over nonpayment of school fees.

"School heads are left in a very delicate situation as some parents who can afford to pay fees don't pay unless the schools send their children home," Kahi Indimuli, the outgoing chairman of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association, told the Standard.

Indimuli urged parents who cannot pay school fees in full to make arrangements with the managements of their schools, to ensure school operations are not affected and their children continue learning.

"The economic situation we are in is quite bad for both parents and schools but parents have an obligation to pay fees. Thus, they should get into an arrangement to ensure that happens," Kahi said.

Adding to the uncertainty is the recent termination of the Edu-Afya comprehensive medical insurance for secondary school students putting the health of millions of students on the line. The decision, effective December 31, leaves parents and educators to figure out solutions amid the fears of potential impact on students' well-being.

Adopted in May of 2018, the cover is reviewed on an annual basis and renewed through agreement by the Education Ministry and the National Hospital Insurance Fund.