As learning institutions reopen in the next two weeks to a packed academic calendar necessitated by Covid lockdowns, parents are facing another season of high school fees.
Parents are groaning under a heavy burden of school fees, uniforms, and books as the first term of the 2022 school year begins on April 25, amidst a skyrocketing cost of living.
Three academic years had to be compressed into two calendar years in Kenya.
Schools have demanded that learners clear fees on or before the opening day, the Kenya Parents Association.
Some parents are opting to transfer their children from boarding schools to day-secondary schools.
Some schools require parents to pay for two new pairs of uniforms, two reams of printing paper, exercise books, pens, and revision books for their children.
Remedial classes, teacher motivation programs, infrastructure, and other activities all have additional fees.
Parents are being pressured to buy reference materials such as dictionaries, maps, Bibles, Korans, geometrical sets, mathematics formulae booklets, and English and Kiswahili set books, despite the government providing free textbooks in public schools.Â
The burden is greater for parents whose children attend private schools, as they must pay exorbitant fees, and purchase textbooks and exercise books, among other expenses.
Uniforms, mattresses, bed covers, uniform labeling, fleece jackets, blazers, and Physical Education kits will cost at least Ksh20,000 ($173) extra for Form One students. Beginning May 3, Form One students will be admitted to schools.
Kenyan parents have been paying fees four times a year since schools resumed in October 2020.
Despite this, secondary school administrators have threatened to raise fees due to the current economic climate.
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