Most parents from Kisii County with children reporting to various schools for Grade 10 Senior Secondary did not turn up for admissions on Monday January 12.
Majority of them, who talked to Education News in Kisii town, complained of rising prices of books, school bags and boxes that forced them to return home and start planning on new purchase by borrowing money from neighbours and friends.
A parent who identified himself as Samuel Osoro said the usual a piece of a metal box costing Ksh1200 rose to Ksh2800 while the cost of the ordinary students’ bag rose to Ksh3500 up from Ksh2000.
They lamented of some schools that had imposed an authorized levy of Ksh1000 from each student purported to buy set books yet these books are provided by the Ministry of education.
At some point parent alleged that each new student was asked to deposit Ksh500 with the boarding master for any emergency phone calls to their homes during their stay at school.
Independent survey by Education News noted smooth reporting of grade 10 students reporting at their new schools.
At Kisii National School, Chief Principal Fred Mogaka said the school has a capacity of 700 Grade 10 learners but expressed fear of more influx of students hut expressed optimism of successful placement.
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“We started admitting our new students although not all of them have reported but from the look of things I foresee a situation where we might be forced to overstretch the available resources to accommodate the ever increasing deserving cases of students.” He said.
The principal asked parents and guardians to accompany their children to school on admission day for both physical financial and psychological support to the pioneer learners as they navigate on their academic journey in the new environment.
At Ikoba Secondary School of Etago Subcounty, the Principal Robert Kerindo said the institution was ready to receive the grade 10 and other students to school for the start of the new year
He thanked the Ministry for sending enough text books for Grade 10 learners and the early release of capitation funds that helped him to paint the classroom walls and repair lockers and chairs for the learners to student in an enabling environment.
He however lamented on the dilapidated roofs of ten class rooms that need repair to avoid leakages especially during the rainy season.
The Principal lamented that the school, which started in 1977, is still donned in old classroom rooms, saying that it poses a threat to learners and appealed to any well-wisher to visit the school to chip in and help them built enough modern classrooms.
By Enock Okong’o
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