Parents last-minute rush to purchase school items ahead of a busy term
Following the Christmas and New Year celebrations, parents are now faced with the responsibility of returning their children to school following the short December holiday.
The second term of the school year ended on December 23, and the third term begins today.
The majority of parents who spoke yesterday expressed their frustration with meeting their children’s educational needs in light of the high cost of living.
Unlike in the past, when the first term began in January, institutions are reopening for term three as a result of changes brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Parents are protesting the high price of items as schools reopen this week, despite the fact that they are required to pay school fees for the third term.
They flocked to various retail outlets to avoid crowding in stores starting today as they prepared to return their children to school.
This will be the shortest term in the school calendar this year, lasting nine weeks.
Schools will close in the first week of March to allow for the start of KCPE and KCSE on March 4 and 11, respectively.
Nelson Sifuna, County Education Director in Siaya, stated that mechanisms have been put in place as they receive back Maranda High School students.
After a series of fires at the institution, the students have been forced to return home for nearly a month.
As parents went shopping, the majority of supermarkets countrywide remained packed. Other locations with long lines included banking agents who were collecting school fees from parents.
The majority of parents expressed dissatisfaction with the high cost of commodities.
Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) did a brisk business in some areas, such as the Mt Kenya region, as holidaymakers returned to their normal bases in preparation for the busy school year.
The booking offices of the leading PSV providers in Nanyuki, including 4NTE, 2NK, Murang’a Shuttle Service, MTN, and Nanyuki Cabs Service, were crowded with commuters seeking to travel to various destinations.
If schools enforce the threat that those who burn property will not be readmitted, students caught up in riots may find themselves locked out.
School principals have been urged to keep needy students with outstanding fees in school ahead of two national exams scheduled for this year.
In Migori County, Woman Representative Dr Pamella Odhiambo noted that the majority of the parents were still struggling financially and “sending the needy students back home would jeopardize their learning”.
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Schools are set to reopen for the third term today, with parents in a last-minute shopping frenzy due to concerns about school fee delays.
“There are several cases we have of needy parents struggling to secure school fees and that is why we are coming in handy with bursaries. The Covid pandemic and the current curriculum change have pushed parents to the edge and this should be understood by school heads,” Dr Odhiambo said.
Parents last-minute rush to purchase school items ahead of a busy term
