Parents across the country have expressed their frustrations before Monday’s school opening for Term Two. The parents, who never minced words, blamed the Ministry of Education (MoE) for not reverting to a regular school calendar where schools open after the month ends.
Parents who spoke to Education News from different countries failed to understand why the MoE never changed school opening dates after the end of COVID-19. Most parents, especially from rural areas, claimed they rely on farm produce, whose income comes at the beginning of every month.
“Why do the Ministry of Education officials think we are all civil servants whose salary comes before the month ends?” Mutembei, a tea farmer from Meru County, asked.
He further lamented that he has no money to meet the school needs of his two daughters, who are supposed to report back to school on Monday.
Andrew Kibagendi, who works for a multinational farm in Nandi Hills, shares the same frustrations and agony. “Our salary is always paid towards the end of the first week of the month. Our children will go back to school without proper preparations, which will affect their stay in school,” he pointed out.
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Most parents are worried about their children being turned back by the school principals for failure to clear fees.
“It has been the habit for the school administrators to send back our children for failing to clear fees, yet they know very well that the month hasn’t ended,” another parent said.
Education News surveyed parental preparations for school reopening for Term Two. It was revealed that Kenyan parents would wish the opening of the schools to be always pushed to the beginning of the term, unlike the current situation.
The report further revealed that learner preparedness at the beginning of the learning cycle(term) is crucial in attaining the desired learning outcomes.
The report also noted that most parents and their learners are subjected to untold stress once proper preparations are not made during the term. This was found to exacerbate the rising cases of mental health issues among Kenyans.
By Kaptich Tarus.
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