Financial strain casts a shadow over new school term

Students board matatus in Kakamega town back to school on January 7, 2025 [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard] As schools across Kenya reopened on Monday for the second term after a three-week break, a cloud of financial strain hung heavily over many families. Parents, learners, and school heads have raised concerns about the mounting costs of education amid a depressed economy and ongoing financial hardships. A spot check by The Standard revealed that while the majority of students are expected to report back to school on time, parents are grappling with the reopening and escalating costs associated with tuition, uniforms, and school supplies. Considering that schools are reopening before the end of the month, it is difficult for many parents to send their children back to school. Apart from school fees, they are grappling with other extra costs including ream papers, remedial fees, benevolent fund, as well as motivation fees that goes beyond Sh10,000. Those hardest hit are parents with students in boarding schools who are supposed to do shopping as well as transport to the institutions. James Munyau, a parent in Makueni says this has strained parents during this hard time. ''It is becoming difficult sending children to school considering the current financial constraints we are facing," he said. Munyau's challenge is a reflection of thousands of parents going through pain to send their children to school. Maimuna Andisi, vegetable vendor and a parent in Voi said with pressure from the school, she has been forced to sell off her property to find fees. "We got a message from the school directing us to ensure students report on April 29, 2025, without failing. The principal also insisted that we have to clear school fees," she said. "I had no alternative but to sell off some of my households to shylocks to send her to school." Esther Auma from Kibera blamed the challenge on the reopening date arguing that it doesn't favour many parents. "I rely on those who earn a salary. How do we pay when they have not even earned a salary," she stated. School principals argue that shrinking funding from the government and lack of parents' support, it makes it difficult to run institutions. "Although the government disbursed capitation to schools, it was not sufficient to run activities the entire term," said Willie Kuria, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association chairman. Kuria noted that schools are grappling with fees and arrears running into billions of shillings. "How do we run schools without the funds? Some heads have been taken to court by suppliers and yet we have to run the schools," he added. Apart from the fees, some schools want students to pay remedial charges amounting to Sh3,000, ream papers as well as motivation money. Others have benevolent kitties while others demand money for development. "Fearing the wrath from the government, schools are using class representatives or Parents Teachers Association as well as Board of Management leaders to pass the message to parents," stated Silas Obuhatsa, National Parents Association chairman. Obuhatsa laments that despite frequent warnings from the government over illegal levies, schools continue charging parents. "Government pays for learning materials to schools but principals continue fleecing the already burdened parents," he said. Business operators are also feeling the heat of the bad economy saying this has affected their sales. "Majority of parents prefer going for second-hand textbooks where they can exchange or buy them at lower prices. Business is at its lowest now," said Martin Kamau, proprietor of Blend Bookshop. In a recent report by Usawa Agenda, at least 40 percent of learners drop out due to unpaid fees. "While the government's free primary and secondary education program aims to ease financial strain, the situation is especially dire in arid and semi-arid areas where poverty levels are high," said Chief Executive Officer Dr Emmanuel Manyasa.

Financial strain casts a shadow over new school term

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