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Parents transfer children from private schools as inflation bites

Public schools are receiving at least three students per class.

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by The Star

Kenya10 January 2024 - 08:50
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In Summary


  • A Kenyan parent spends about Sh68,701 annually on a school–going child
  • An average family in Kenya is spending more than 10 times their monthly income on school fees.

54 grade 5 pupils of Mukuru Primary school settle in class on their first day of school on January 4, 2020. The class has a capacity of 92 students with more still to report on day one. January 4, 2021.

The high cost of living due to high taxes amid muted revenue is forcing parents to transfer children from costly private schools to public ones.

A spot check by the Star in various schools across the country, a day after official opening for the first term of the year on January 9 revealed an average of at least three transfers per class in sampled institutions. 

Daniel Wanyoike, director and founder of Little Flowers Academy in Roysambu, Nairobi says this trend has been in play for the past year. 

"I have lost at least 46 pupils to public schools since last January. Grades four and five are the most affected. Although parents cite relocation as a reason for school transfers, I've met several at nearby public schools,'' Wanjoike told the Star.

He revealed that there has been a surge in school fee defaults, with parents managing just above a quarter of total fees charged per term. 

"Parents used to clear at least half of fees by the second week of school opening. This has drastically dropped to just above a quarter, with the majority blaming muted revenues amid the high cost of living".

His counterpart at Hellena Academy, Hellen Kariuki is worried that she might be forced to close her decade-long institution if this trend persists.

"We are operating in negative. A huge amount of fees is pending, operational costs have almost doubled due to high food prices, stationaries and taxes. I'm giving it the last try. It is depressing,'' she said. 

She reveals that she is losing at least three students every month since resumption of school after Covid-19. 

"I cannot say they all go to public schools but majority do. Well-maintained public schools like Moi Avenue Primary School, Westlands Muthaiga, Kilimani among others have turned to be our greatest competitors,'' Kariuki said. 

She adds that house rent is also a key determinant in school transfers especially in Nairobi as parents look for more affordable houses in setilite towns. 

A similar scenario is being witnessed in other towns across the country, with Mable Academy in Kakamega county reporting eight transfers in Grade 5 alone. 

Gloria Gimode, a classs teacher at the school told the Star that the exeodus is worrying and seems to be intensifying every term. 

"I don't know  if parents have a sudden restored confidence in public insititutions ore are sinply running away from costs. It is becoming exteremely difficult to get a slot at Lurambi , Kakamega Primary among others,'' Gimode told the Star.

"Older private schools like Mumias Complex and Booker Academy, she said, are  selling like 'hot cakes.

Starlight Academy, Fountain Academy in Huruma and Kimumu Junior Academy in Eldoret have also reported losing pupils to public establishments. 

A teacher at Garden Estate Primary School told this writer that they have recieved some of highest number of transfers in recent times.

"We have no vacancies. Classes are full but requests are streaming in,'' he said. 

Educationalist Lucas Kithuku says the trensfers are clearly economic and not in anyway related to quality of education. 

"Things are tough. Households are budgetting for every coin. Private school is a luxury. Breadwinners have very limted or no disposible income to spend on that,'' he said.

He added that the quality of education is almost at par as private insitutions lack experienced teachers while public ones have limited tools. 

On average, a Kenyan parent spends about Sh68,701 annually on a school–going child, according to a new survey which details the heavy burden majority of families are currently facing amid rising cost of living.

Projections by global digital remittances firm, WorldRemit, show that the typical cost of education for most households in the country in comparison to other global markets, is 1054.31 percent.

According to the survey, they pay such monies in form of stationery, school uniforms, P.E or gym skits and other extra items like caps, jackets, countertop and food-warming utensils for their learners.

This means an average family in Kenya is spending more than 10 times of their monthly household income towards schooling their children.

A middle-class family in a city like Nairobi or Mombasa, for instance, spends about Sh221,904.23 for an average household size of 3.23.

The firm's study found that, on average, private schools cost parents Sh12,576 student six years ago at the current exchange rate. About  Sh7,678.8 went to tuition, while the rest was spent on food and other fees.

This has almost doubled, with parents now paying an average of Sh25,000 per term. 

On the other hand, public schools in Kenya cost at Sh6,541.2 per student per year on average, accounting for public funding and “hidden” fees.

Kelly Karegi, a mother of three has moved his childeren to Bidii Primary School in Nairobi from an estate private school. 

She hopes to cut education spend by half for her children who are in Junior High, Grade 5 and Grade two one respectively. 

"My employer asked me to take half pay or exit. I had to make expenditure cuts. Rent and education were first on the chopping board,'' she said. 

Mercy Mwikali is also condering taking her daughter who is in Grade 5 at a cityb private school to public to cut on costs as the pressure on muted revenue continues. 

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