Education officials in Kwale County are warning that parental misplaced priorities are undermining children’s academic progress, despite the region’s heavy investment in bursaries, scholarships, and school support programs.
The concerns resurfaced following the release of the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results, as thousands of learners prepare to transition from Grade Six to Seven and Grade Nine to Ten.
Mama Nshee Integrated School Director Shee Mwamwindi said many parents continue to prioritise lavish cultural ceremonies over meeting school requirements.
Speaking during the school’s KJSEA celebrations in Ukunda, Mwamwindi said the spending pattern is hurting children’s education.
“In the coastal region, most parents prioritise weddings, funerals and luxurious life at the expense of education,” he said.
Mwamwindi said parents buy expensive designer clothes for the ceremony but fail to pay school fees or buy textbooks.
He noted that the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) demands stronger parental supervision and consistent financial support, with learners required to progress to Grade 12 for full certification.
“The new curriculum comes with added costs, and without serious prioritisation, many children will fall through the cracks,” he said.
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Msambweni Sub-county Education Director Vincent Yawa warned that children left unsupervised or out of school become easy targets for criminal gangs, drugs and substance abuse, which are persistent threats in the region.
“Panga-wielding gangs are out there, and they don’t spare anyone. If parents don’t monitor their children closely, they could easily be preyed upon or pulled into these criminal groups,” Yawa warned.
He urged parents to closely monitor their children during holidays and ensure their basic school needs are met.
A parent, Irshad Azam, urged his colleagues across Kwale to remain vigilant and take a more active role in their children’s well-being.
He said many of the problems affecting youths, including school dropout, early pregnancies, and exposure to criminal groups, can be prevented when parents maintain open communication and consistent supervision.
Azam noted that a growing number of children lack emotional guidance at home, leaving them vulnerable to peer pressure and exploitation.
He stressed that families must rebuild trust with their children so that they feel safe sharing their challenges, especially during long holiday periods when many spend hours unsupervised.
He said proper parenting goes beyond providing food and shelter and requires deliberate efforts to understand children’s lives, struggles, and social interactions.
According to him, teenagers in particular need reliable role models, structured routines, and clear boundaries to stay focused on school and avoid risky behaviour.
Azam warned that the consequences of neglect are already visible in the rising cases of teenage pregnancies and the number of boys being lured into crime syndicates operating in the region.
He said parents must act early to prevent the situation from worsening.
He emphasised the importance of regular conversations between parents and their children, saying such dialogue helps detect behavioural changes, emotional distress, or influences that may derail their academic or personal growth.
“Talk to them, guide them, and know where they are. If we don’t protect our children, no one will,” he said.
By Mwajabe Omar
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