KPSEA Results Remain Pending as Confusion Marks School Reopening.
The reopening of schools yesterday was marked by widespread confusion among parents uncertain whether Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) candidates, whose results have not yet been released, should report to junior secondary school.
While some schools with extra classrooms directed Grade 9 students to report, others grappled with accommodating the new cohort due to insufficient space. This left many parents unsure about the appropriate steps for their children.
Parents Struggle with Rising Costs
Parents transitioning their children to Grade 9 faced the additional burden of increased costs for learning materials. Numerous schools instructed parents to purchase textbooks for the new curriculum, compounding their challenges.
Across the country, bookshops were crowded with parents rushing to acquire the required materials. A survey in several towns revealed that parents were unclear about which textbooks were needed.
James Shitandi, a concerned parent, noted that he had to purchase eight textbooks, each costing Sh980, for his Grade 9 child. He urged the government to ease the financial burden by reducing frequent textbook changes, allowing younger children to use books previously purchased for their older siblings.
Andrew Sikolia, another parent, lamented the steep prices of textbooks, stating that he needed 12 books costing Sh210 each but lacked the funds to buy them.
As a boda boda rider, Sikolia appealed to headteachers to allow students to attend school while parents gathered the necessary fees. He also criticized the government for failing to deliver on its promise of affordable education.
Controversial Ream Paper Demands
In Kakamega Town, Dickson Ambani protested the requirement for parents to buy ream papers, alleging that some schools had turned this into a money-making venture.
With three children in school, he faced the obligation to purchase nine reams of paper, each priced at Sh700.
Ambani called on the government to investigate the matter, highlighting that some schools were even selling the required ream papers themselves.
Transport Costs Add to the Burden
Parents also contended with inflated transport fares as public service vehicles and boda boda operators took advantage of the back-to-school rush.
For instance, fares from Kisumu to Kakamega increased from Sh200–Sh250 to Sh300–Sh400. In the Western region, long queues were observed at banks as parents scrambled to pay school fees.
In Mombasa, confusion over the transition to new classes added to the challenges. Beatrice Gamble, a parent at LosaJoy Education Centre in Likoni, expressed frustration at being asked to take her child to Grade 7 before the KPSEA results were released.
Similarly, James Kenga, another parent, was uncertain whether his son, who had sat for KPSEA, should report to school due to the lack of communication and space at his school.
Rising Bus Fares and Travel Chaos
Hundreds of students crowded bus stations in Mombasa, attempting to travel to schools in other parts of the country.
Increased demand led to fare hikes, with tickets to destinations such as Siaya, Busia, Kisumu, and Kakamega rising from Sh2,200 to Sh3,000–Sh3,700.
Read Also: Congestion, Classroom Shortages and Teacher Gaps Mark Grade 9 Rollout
Bus companies, including Modern Coast and Simba Coach, were overwhelmed by the demand, and some services were fully booked until January 10. New operators like Nyamira Express and Royal Bus introduced additional fleets to capitalize on the surge.
The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) also experienced full bookings, with passenger trains unavailable until January 20. Parents accompanying their children expressed frustration at the inflated travel costs, with many struggling to secure affordable tickets.
Schools Address Safety Concerns
In Kericho, schools that had been directed to close their boarding facilities for failing to meet safety standards were allowed to reopen after complying with the Ministry of Education’s directives.
Nancy Kenduiywo, Director of SallyAnn Academy in Bureti Constituency, confirmed that her institution had remodeled its stairs and emergency exits as required and had passed an inspection.
Similarly, Joseph Terer, Director of Upper Hill Academy, reported that overcrowded dormitories and inadequate sanitation facilities had been addressed during the holidays.
Kipkelion East MP Joseph Cherorot called for a balanced approach to enforcing safety regulations, urging the government to provide schools with adequate time to meet the standards instead of resorting to closures that disrupt learning.
In November last year, the Ministry of Education had ordered the immediate closure of boarding sections in 348 primary schools for failing to meet safety requirements.
KPSEA Results Remain Pending as Confusion Marks School Reopening.
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