Brace Yourself: Parents Struggle With Soaring Costs As Schools Reopen For Term Two Amid Financial Strain

admin | April 29, 2025 | TSC NEWS | No Comments

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Parents Fight With Rising Expenses As Schools Reopen For Term Two .

As the second school term kicks off across Kenya, a growing number of parents are grappling with significant financial hurdles. With the rising cost of school supplies, fees, and new learning material requirements, many families find themselves struggling to meet the demands of back-to-school expenses. Unlike the usual hustle and bustle witnessed during past school reopening periods, towns and cities appear unusually calm this time around a clear signal of the underlying economic challenges facing Kenyan households.

A Slow Return to School Shopping

Traditionally, the final weekend before school reopening would see crowded bus stations, bustling bookstores, and busy uniform shops. However, this year paints a different picture. In Nairobi and other major towns, only a trickle of parents and students could be spotted making last-minute preparations. Bus termini, which are often packed with traveling students, were relatively deserted.

Many parents chose to send their children back early to avoid the infamous Monday traffic jam. Still, timing alone doesn’t explain the quieter scenes. Beneath the surface, families are dealing with economic realities that have severely affected their ability to prepare adequately for the new school term.

Soaring Costs and Shrinking Budgets

One of the biggest headaches for parents this term has been the sharp increase in the cost of school supplies. Textbooks, uniforms, stationery, and digital devices required under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) have seen unprecedented price hikes.

“The prices are simply unaffordable now,” lamented one parent. “A textbook that cost KSh 500 last year now goes for KSh 800 or more. Multiply that by several subjects and children, and it’s overwhelming.”

School fees have also risen, compounding the financial stress. The overlap between the reopening date and end-of-month paydays has created a cash flow crunch, with many workers yet to receive their salaries.

Moreover, the CBC system’s expanded learning needs including tablets, laptops, project-based learning materials, and special arts equipment have further strained household budgets. Parents now have to budget not just for tuition and traditional books, but also for gadgets and online resources necessary for modern learning.

Vendors Feel the Pinch Too

It’s not just parents feeling the heat. School supply vendors, especially those selling uniforms and textbooks, report a noticeable decline in sales compared to previous years.

“I’ve been sitting here the whole day without a single sale,” said Mercy, a Nairobi-based uniform trader. “In the past, I would have served at least 100 customers in a day.”

Bookshops and retail stores echo similar sentiments, with managers expressing concern over reduced foot traffic and shrinking customer spending.

The financial difficulties facing parents are creating a ripple effect across the education supply chain, hurting businesses that traditionally rely on back-to-school shopping seasons.

CBC Requirements Stretch Family Finances

The implementation of the CBC curriculum has been widely praised for modernizing Kenya’s education system. However, it has also introduced a slew of new demands that many families were unprepared for.

Learning materials now range from arts and crafts items to complex digital devices, all of which are costly. Some parents have voiced concerns that while the CBC is a step in the right direction, it remains out of reach for low-income households.

“How are we supposed to afford tablets for each child when we can barely afford basic meals?” asked a parent from Machakos County. “Education should not become a burden that only the wealthy can bear.”

The Emotional Toll on Parents and Students

Financial difficulties are not just affecting the pocketbook they are taking a psychological toll as well. Parents report feeling guilty and stressed when unable to meet all their children’s school needs.

“I had to choose between paying school fees and buying new shoes for my son,” confessed one parent. “It’s heartbreaking.”

Meanwhile, students returning to school without proper supplies risk facing embarrassment, isolation, or falling behind in classwork. This emotional weight only compounds the academic pressures students already face.

Stakeholders Call for Urgent Government Intervention

Education stakeholders, including parent associations and school administrators, are now calling on the government to step in and ease the burden. Suggestions on the table include:

– Early and full disbursement of capitation funds to public schools.

– Subsidies for textbooks, digital devices, and essential learning materials.

– Tax relief measures on school supplies to lower costs.

– Introduction of school feeding programs to lessen financial strain on parents.

– Flexible fee payment plans that allow parents to settle balances over time.

Without immediate action, stakeholders warn, the current financial squeeze could worsen learning inequalities, leading to lower attendance rates and poorer academic performance across the country.

Parents Improvise and Prioritize

In the face of mounting costs, many parents are adopting creative strategies to ensure their children return to school. Some are opting for second-hand uniforms, borrowing textbooks from older students, or forming informal lending groups to share resources.

Others have prioritized critical purchases, such as paying school fees first and delaying the purchase of non-essential supplies. While these strategies provide temporary relief, they are not sustainable solutions for long-term educational success.

Rising Cost of Living Intensifies Pressure

The school reopening challenges are merely a reflection of a larger national issue the rising cost of living. Food prices, transport costs, rent, and healthcare expenses have all soared, leaving little room for educational expenses.

Many families have had to dip into savings, borrow money, or cut back on other essentials just to afford the basics needed for their children’s schooling.

Unless broader economic reforms are implemented to tame inflation and stabilize household incomes, the struggles witnessed this term are likely to intensify in the coming months.

Conclusion

The reopening of schools for the second term has exposed the severe financial strain many Kenyan parents are under. Between skyrocketing school costs, delayed salaries, CBC learning requirements, and a rising cost of living, parents are stretched to the limit.

If urgent measures are not taken, the education dreams of thousands of children could be compromised. For Kenya to secure its future, supporting families during critical school periods must become a top priority for policymakers and education authorities alike. Visit our website http://www.teachersnewscenter.co.ke for daily updates and insight information on Kenya’s education sector.

Parents Fight With Rising Expenses As Schools Reopen For Term Two .

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