By Lydia Ngoolo
The current trend of forcing parents to purchase uniforms from schools is likely going to hinder 100 per cent transition to secondary school as per the government’s policy.
Machakos County Chief of Staff Mwengi Mutuse said it’s high time that the government through the Ministry of Education looked at this trend and bar the principals from forcing parents to buy uniforms from specific places.
“Why would a parent not be allowed to purchase the uniform from the shops at an affordable price? Those with tenders to supply school uniforms in different schools are the only beneficiaries as the parents suffer. Parents need only specifications about uniform and they can source them any place they find affordable,” he said.
He was speaking when he commissioned two classrooms at Malivini Early childhood Education centre in Kibwezi West Constituency. Mutuse said uniforms are being sold at a double price in schools comparing with other outlets.
He observed it was unfair for a parent to be denied entry for their children just because they have not purchased uniforms from the school. He pointed out that every child has a right to education.
Ndunge Mutiso said she struggled a lot when her son was joining Form One but after pleading with the administration they enrolled the child. She had bought a similar uniform from shop since she did not have money to pay for the uniform sold at the school.
