Parents decry high costs, laud return of traditional terms

Parents were yesterday in a last-minute rush for back-to-school shopping even as they lauded the return of the traditional academic calendar but decried the high cost of commodities.

They noted that the return to normal timetable this year, with terms running for 13 weeks, will ease pressure on syllabus coverage and fee payment compared to the crash programme adopted post-Covid-19 pandemic in the last two years.

In Nakuru, a parent, James Kiai, said they had adequate time to prepare their children for the reopening of schools after a long holiday since last November.

Kiai said the return of the traditional calendar will give them a breather in paying fees.

“We have been struggling to pay fees due to squeezed calendars but I can say now I will be relaxed as they study,” said Kiai.

Walter Ng’ethe, a teacher said the demand is high for transportation, uniforms, and textbooks among other things saying parents have had to queue for long hours at relevant stores.

Patmat Bookshop General Manager Sam Mburu said they expect a booming business, especially with the return of the normal school calendar.

“Uniforms and textbooks are in high demand from parents, especially those transitioning to Grade Seven, we are well prepared and stocked for that,” said Mburu.

Another parent, Susan Ngaruiya lamented some materials needed in schools were expensive, especially for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

“If you have two or three children in school under the CBC you will have to dig deeper since all books have now been replaced,” said Ngaruiya.

At the Mashambani Bus Terminus in the Central Business District, matatu operators maintained normal bus fares, unlike other opening seasons.

In North Rift, parents jammed stationery and uniform shops in last-minute shopping.

A spot-check by People Daily in many outlets in the region revealed long queues with parents complaining over high prices coupled with harsh economic times with most of them unable to cater for school fees and other basic necessities.

Grade Six parents called on the government to consider supporting private schools just like public schools.

“Schools are charging high fees and many parents are also struggling to buy new uniforms and textbooks,” said Caren Jepng’etich, a parent.

The parents complained of exorbitant charges and extra levies by many schools and called on the ministry to crack the whip.

Extra levies

People Daily established that some schools were charging as much as Sh3,000 a term for extra levies.

“We feel we are being overcharged considering that we are also struggling to pay school fees,” said Joseph Ruto, another parent.

Many traders however complained of low sales as parents complained of harsh economic times.

At Shanir Wool Shop in Eldoret town, long queues were witnessed as parents rushed to take their children to school.

“Compared to other years, many parents complain of lack of money. Most of them are buying half of the materials they need, promising to come back and buy the rest later. We just have to understand them,” a manager at Shanir Wool Shop told the People Daily.

Meanwhile, the government has put adequate measures in place to ensure that schools in the banditry-prone counties in the North Rift re-open without any hitches.

Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Abdi Hassan and the region’s Police Commander Tom Odero yesterday said every school in volatile areas has been assigned 10 armed National Police Reservists (NPRs) in addition to regular police patrols.

Assured of safety

“The area is generally pacified and conducive for school opening and normal business activities. All schools are assured of their safety,” said Odero.

Odero said an additional 200 NPRs are being vetted and the process is at an advanced stage to contain insecurity in the region.

In Kisii, minimal activities were witnessed in the bookshops and streets to buy school items.

Similarly, matatu operators recorded low business as only a few learners travelled back to school.

Jared Mochere, a matatu operator, said they had not hiked bus fares.

“I think parents are looking for money for their children’s school fees and transport. Our business is not booming the way we expected,” Mochere said.

Alice Motende, a parent lamented the high cost of living, saying they are unable to pay high fees, buy uniforms for their children and send them to school.

“We expected we will get more funds from the Hustler Fund to ease our suffering only to realise that it is little and cannot even be enough for shopping,” Motende noted.

It was a similar script for Mombasa as parents and guardians decried the high cost of school items as book and uniform sellers increased prices on the back-to-school rush.

 Along the busy Biashara Street, it was a beehive of activities as parents rushed to shop for school necessities for their children.

At the Mombasa uniform retail shops, parents flocked to purchase uniforms and other necessities.

Second-hand booksellers are making a kill as parents flocked to buy textbooks.

Mombasa Uniforms director, Monica Mutua said the biggest challenge has been the rising cost of raw materials and the dealers have no option other than increase prices to meet the cost of raw materials.

“For a 40-metre roll of raw material we are now paying Sh14,000 up from Sh8,000 while the light fabric has risen from Sh4,500 to Sh6,000 so we will have no option than increase the cost of uniforms to meet the cost,” said Mutua.

She urged the government to adjust taxes imposed on the importation of raw materials to ease the burden to parents buying uniforms. Some of the parents interviewed decried high prices in the main bookshops thus opting to go for cheaper second-hand books.

 Roy Lumbe Wycliff Kipsang, Robert Ochoro, Harrison Kivisu and Noven Owiti