Schools Reopening: Parents Staring At High Cost Of Books, Uniforms Amid Tough Economic Times

• Parents say that the new CBC system has added a financial burden on them as they have to buy new textbooks for their children
• Parents also stated that the tough economic conditions they experienced in 2023 have affected their ability to cater for back-to-school expenses
• Other parents cited increased spending during the Christmas period for their financial strain in January

Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has more than three years of financial, business, and technology research expertise, providing insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Parents are now dealing with the challenges of the back-to-school season, facing increased transportation costs, outstanding fees, and various financial obligations as educational institutions are set to reopen this week.

The festive season is costly, leaving many parents with less finances for the back-to-school expenses in the New Year.

Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, parents noted that this is a new year when students are expected to progress to the next class and require new textbooks, which increases the costs of taking children back to school in January.

"My two children are going back to school tomorrow and I haven't bought them the new books because right now things are hard. The news system has made things harder for us because back then, they could use the textbooks that were used by their siblings. But with CBC, now I have to buy new books for the two," said Martha, a parent living in Thika.

Parents struggle to buy new learning materials

In Thika Town, parents flocked to school uniform shops and bookstores, preparing to take their children back to school.

Joan, a mother of a girl joining junior secondary school, told TUKO.co.ke that the new year is the most challenging period for her to take her daughter back to school because they require a lot of expensive learning materials.

She further remarked that the long December holiday and the festivities over Christmas eat into parents' pockets, leading to financial struggles in January.

"I don't like January. During Christmas, we spent a lot of money travelling back home and now we are struggling to pay fees and buy what is needed. Things are very expensive; look at this shoe, I bought it at KSh 2400, and she still wants a bag, new socks, and new books," said Joan.

Parents struggling to pay school fees

Echoing Joan's sentiments, Mwangi, also a parent, said that schools will have to allow students back without fee clearance because parents are out of options.

"I have tried all means, and now I will just go to school and talk to the teachers. I have two children in secondary school and I have only been able to pay half for each of them. The economy was tough in 2023, so they will have to understand us," said Mwangi.

CS releases 2023 KCSE results

In other news related to education, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu officially released the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam results.

From the results announced by Machogua, a total of 1,216 candidates out of 895, 533 scored a mean grade of A.

"There were 1,216 (0.14%) candidates who obtained an overall grade of A in the 2023 KCSE Examination compared to 1,146 (0.13%) candidates in the year 2022," Machogu said.