Parents complain of exploitation by rogue schools
As the back to school week kicks in, Parents across the country will be busy shopping for school items and personal effects at various uniform shops, book stores, supermarkets, and even open-air markets
Some institutions have however perfected the art of business; parents will be forced to part with thousands of shillings to acquire the same items on arrival.
A cross-check by this reporter on several schools within the county paints a grim picture; one of sheer rip off. In a particular school, for example, students joining form one are required to part with up to Sh15, 500 to acquire basic necessities including; blankets, mattresses, shoes, metal boxes, slasher among others.
However, on the ground. The same items can go for as low as Sh 9,000, meaning the schools are raking in profit margins of up to Sh 5,000. In the same school where about 500 form one students are expected, the profit will translate into a cool Sh2.5 million.
Parents and traders are crying foul calling upon the government to tame the rogue schools and bring back sanity. Some claim, most of the schools practicing such vices have neglected their primary role of teaching instead focusing on business opportunities.
Add this to the realities of the lean, silly season of January also christened, ‘Njaanuary’ and the results is a double tragedy for parents.
Parents are also calling upon the government to regulate school fees charged by secondary schools, and have gone on to accuse school principles as using this opportunity to exploit them.
