Even as we head into the festive Christmas period, the early release of the Kenya Certificate of Primary School Examination results put parents on notice that there are more pressing financial demands after the festivities.
Form One students will be joining in January 2017 unlike previously when they did in March. The financial burden is therefore heavy in terms of fees and purchases, which makes the directive by Cabinet Secretary for Education Fred Matiang'i that schools should not restrict parents to specific retail outlets welcome.
Corruption does not only pervade the corridors of public offices, it has also found its way into schools. The practice of limiting parents to buying school uniforms and other items from specific suppliers is an avenue for corruption where school heads get kickbacks.
Uniform purchased from such outlets is often more than double the going price from other outlets.
Dr Matiang'i has demonstrated he can do it and that is why parents have placed a lot of trust in him to bring order into a sector that had become open to abuse.
Parents expect that besides ensuring fees chargeable remains within set guidelines, he will also ensure his latest directive is followed to the letter. There are those who will ignore it believing they are out of the minister's reach; he must prove them wrong.
