What happened to good old parents' day?

When we were growing up, there was something called parents’ day. Parents looked forward to this day because that was an opportunity to vent at the school administration.

Through their vocal chair, they would complain about the expensive tuition fees, the unbalanced lunch the pupils were being served, the school’s dismal performance during KCPE exams, the white elephants in the school (buildings that were never completed) and all.

The administration dreaded this day because it was the only time they were on the receiving end. Those forums were good because they kept the school management on their toes. There was no time to be lax.

Enter 2014 and there is no such forum in most private schools. Apparently, some of these schools have discovered that the best way to deal with parents is to scrap of that fundamental day.

Most parents with kids in private primary schools have serious grievances and they need a forum where they can air them out. But the administration has deliberately blocked that avenue.

For instance, in my daughter’s school, I am told the owner has deliberately avoided that forum because she does not want to face parents and explain to them some things that are not adding up.

As a parent, I would have loved to know how the crazy fees we pay is spent because our kids are always served maize, beans and cabbage and on a good day rice and ndengus.

Parents want to know why they are paying so much for swimming, yet the kids only swim thrice in a term. Parents want to know why they have to pay so much money for school trips (that can cater for lunch and gate fee) and yet they are required to pack snacks and drinks for the child.

Parents need a forum where they can address such pertinent concerns, especially if they are paying hefty amounts in the name of school fees. By the way this does not apply to all schools, just some who are solely in the business of making money.

Photo: www.iespublicschool.org