- Parents have struggled to meet rising education costs as schools have reopened for the third term amid economic hardship.
- Economic hardship has strained families’ mental wellbeing as both parents and students have faced stress, anxiety and emotional pressure linked to financial difficulties.
Schools have reopened today for the third term, bringing renewed academic activity across the country. But for many parents and guardians, the return to school has come with anxiety, stress and financial pressure as families struggle to meet the rising cost of education amid biting economic times.
The reopening means another round of expenses: school fees, transport, uniforms, books, stationery, meals and other basic requirements. For parents already struggling to put food on the table and meet household bills, providing everything needed for their children has become an increasingly difficult task.
Some parents say the pressure has left them emotionally drained. The constant struggle to provide for their children while dealing with unemployment, high prices of basic commodities and other financial obligations has increased stress in many households. For some, prolonged financial strain can contribute to serious mental-health challenges, including depression.
But all is not well even for parents with students joining universities. Reports reaching Education News from several public universities paint a worrying picture, with some students arriving on campus without basic personal necessities because their parents and guardians simply cannot afford to provide everything required.
ALSO READ:
Schools reopen for Third Term amid funding shortfall ahead of national exams
Some university students are now being forced to improvise to survive the high cost of accommodation. Reports indicate that groups of students are choosing to live together in a single house and share rent, food and other expenses as they seek to reduce the financial burden on their families.
The situation is being mirrored across many public universities, according to reports reaching Education News. For some students, the dream of university education is increasingly accompanied by the harsh reality of struggling to afford accommodation, meals, transport and other basic needs.
The financial difficulties can also affect students’ mental wellbeing. A young person trying to adjust to university life while simultaneously worrying about where the next meal, rent payment or basic personal item will come from can find the experience extremely stressful.
Parents, meanwhile, are caught between competing demands. They want their children to acquire an education and secure a better future, but many are themselves struggling to survive. School fees, university expenses, household bills and the rising cost of basic commodities are stretching already limited family incomes.
The situation calls for greater understanding and support from education institutions, government and other stakeholders. While families have a responsibility to support their children, the economic realities facing many households cannot be ignored.
How teachers assess Form Four’s preparedness for KCSE exams
As schools reopen for the third term and universities continue receiving new students, the stories emerging from families across the country serve as a reminder that education comes at a high cost for many households.
For struggling parents, the issue is no longer simply about paying school fees. It is about finding enough money to keep their children in school, adequately fed, accommodated and emotionally supported.
The reopening of schools and universities should be a moment of hope and opportunity. But for thousands of families facing economic hardship, it has instead become a season of worry, sacrifice and difficult choices.
By Mark Otieno Jonyo
Get more stories from our website: Education News
To write to us or offer feedback, you can reach us at: editor@educationnews.co.ke
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
