Parents Speak Out Against Rising School Supplies Costs for Freshmen

Parents enrolling their children in Form One have complained about tough demands and rising school-supply prices as students return for the first term of secondary school.

They now fear that if the Ministry of Education does not intervene, the cost of education will prevent some parents from educating their children.

On Monday, February 6, 2023, the official admission day, parents and students flocked to their chosen schools across the country.

In addition to being asked to pay first-term fees, parents were met with exaggerated prices for school supplies.

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Some parents had to leave their children in school to rush to nearby towns to buy items needed for admission.

Parents enrolling their children in day schools in Embu criticized the high fees levied as well as the numerous items listed for admission.

Parents arrived at All Saint Kigari day school in Manyatta as early as 6 a.m. to avoid the long lines and exhausting process.

Libareta Mutitu, accompanied by her son, claims that the high cost of education may prevent parents from educating their children.

Mutitu claims that the school administration has asked parents to pay fees before their children can be admitted. She claims that the school fees were previously Ksh.12,500 but have now risen to Ksh.16,000.

“The cost of living has increased. “I feel sorry for farmers who are also parents because they did not harvest enough crops due to the lack of rain,” Mutitu says.

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Mercy Wawira, a parent whose daughter attends the same school, says she is at a crossroads because of other obligations.

She has a child in college and two more in school, and the burden is becoming too much for her.

The Kenyan government is pushing for a 100% transition of all learners who took their KCPE exams, having placed all 1.2 million into respective secondary schools regardless of their grades.

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