Back to School: Parents Express Concerns Over Rising Costs of Uniforms and School Supplies

Back to School: Parents Express Concerns Over Rising Costs of Uniforms and School Supplies

As schools prepare to reopen tomorrow, parents across Kenya are grappling with increased expenses. The surge in prices, particularly for textbooks and essential supplies, has placed a heavy burden on families.

Last weekend, school shopping centers saw a notably low turnout. Major bookstores and uniform shops experienced significantly fewer customers compared to previous terms.

Jonstone Muyelele expressed his frustration with the rising costs, stating, “The cost of living has risen—what used to cost 100 shillings now costs 200.”

Faith Kimanzi faced challenges while shopping for her children’s educational needs and decided to travel early to avoid the expected congestion on Monday.

The new requirements of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) have further strained family budgets, as parents are now required to purchase laptops in addition to traditional school supplies.

Uniform vendors reported a sharp decline in their sales figures, with Mercy Musumba noting that she hadn’t made any sales during what is usually a busy shopping period.

Bus stations were less crowded than usual, as parents opted to travel on Sunday rather than deal with the typical Monday morning rush.

The timing of the school calendar has added extra financial strain on families, many of whom have not yet received their monthly salaries during this reopening period.

Bookstores had noticeably emptier shelves than usual for the start of a term, as price increases discouraged the typical influx of last-minute shoppers.

Families with multiple children were hit hardest by the rising costs of school supplies, with many parents struggling to buy duplicate sets of expensive materials.

Bus stations and ticket offices were unusually quiet as families prepared for the weekend. The usual chaos associated with the start of a school term was markedly subdued this season.

The demands of the CBC have significantly increased parental spending, with modern educational tools required by schools doubling previous expenses.

Uniform sellers noted a drastic drop in customer numbers, leading to a considerable decrease in profits during this peak shopping season.

Economic pressures have prompted parents to rethink their shopping strategies, with many prioritizing essential items over complete supply lists.

Vendors reported the lowest sales figures seen in recent school terms, and traditional shopping areas remained unusually calm throughout the weekend.

The school reopening has brought the economic challenges facing families into sharp focus, yet parents continue to show remarkable resilience in the face of mounting financial pressures.