It is back to school for a new year’s calendar in the education sector. School reopening preparations has thrown Kenyan parents into unprecedented helter skelter. The joy that was a signature of the December holiday is quickly turning into back-to-school stress associated with the month of January.
As parents are pondering on how they will meet a flurry of necessities for their children, some secondary school Principals have this week sent short messages to the parents to ensure that they clear term one fees on or before opening day. This has been corroborated by a cross section of parents who were interviewed by the Education News.
“This is a clear indication that our principals are less concerned with the learning of our children. They are after money,” said one of the disgruntled parent from Nakuru County. The parent went on to suggest that the Principals should have talked of clearance of last term’s fees for those who had not and accepting of an amount for the rest.
Parents from some counties in Western Kenya were quick to point out that total clearance of first term’s fees policy is a factor that is negating education for all.
A clarion call
They said only well to do parents will have their children report back next week as the rest stay at home. The parents are making a clarion call to the Education Cabinet Secretary to reign on the Principals who will insist on total fees payment next week.
For the first time since the inception of 8-4-4 system of education which is at the sunset in our secondary schools, there will be no Form One intake this year.
This scenario is sending shivers and jitters among the school Principals at the beginning of the term. Schools normally capitalise on Form One fees payments to run the schools as they wait for the usually delayed capitation.
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A number of education stakeholders reached for comment attributed the action taken by some Principals to the absence of Form One class this year. They, unlike the parents, implored upon the Cabinet Secretary to ensure capitation funds are wired to school accounts by the end of the week.
“The Ministry of Education and the Treasury were quite aware that the schools are opening next week. They are also aware of absence of Form One admission and its impact on schools running,” said a chair of Board of Management of a secondary school in Uasin Gishu.
Things aren’t rossy in junior schools which are domiciled in the primary schools. Education News has learnt that construction of Grade 9 in a number of schools is yet to start. Parents are making incessant plea to the Ministry of Education to expedite an already time barred activity.
By Kaptich Tarus
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