Cost of education in Kenya

Schools have resumed today following the two weeks closure ordered by the government on August 1st to pave way for the 2022 general elections.

Parents however continue to express concerns that the short school terms in the current education calendar are not sufficient to cover the syllabus and are putting a lot of pressure on both the learners and the teachers. The 2022 academic year has four terms, up from the usual three terms, as the ministry of education tries to normalize the school calendar following the 2020 9month school closure in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our education calendar is putting much strain and confusion to children, teachers and parents,” one parent lamented in a class WhatsApp group after the government announced the closure of schools for elections.

Parents with students who are supposed to be sitting for national exams are even more worried especially with the current political interruptions that the school calendar might suffer more setbacks while others are concerned about the financial burden of education in the wake of an increased cost of living and dwindling incomes.

Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga has disputed the presidential elections and announced that he and his team will be moving to the Supreme Court to challenge the elections. Should the court nullify the election and call for a repeat poll, which has to be done within 90 days according to the constitution, this will further disrupt the education calendar, much worse at a critical time when candidates will be starting the national exams. 

Class 8, form 4 together with grade 3 and 6 pupils are supposed to sit for their national exams at the end of the year ignorer to transition to the next classes. The current grade six pupils are expected to be the first cohort to join the inaugural junior high school under the new competency-based curriculum.

There is also confusion on whether, if his election is upheld by the Supreme Court, William Ruto’s government is going to carry on with the CBC curriculum or revert to the good old 844 system.

Ruto during his campaign cited that his government will do away with the CBC curriculum. 

President Uhuru’s government has been constructing new junior high classrooms in preparation for the first transition in January 2023 even as the process of transition remains unclear for most parents.

President Uhuru’s government has been constructing new junior high classrooms in preparation for the first transition in January 2023 even as the process of transition remains unclear for most parents.