Bus fares double as schools reopen for third term

Students and parents flocked to the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) on Tuesday as schools re-open for the third term.

Various bus stages within the CBD were seen with students in uniform, especially those travelling to areas like Nyeri, Machakos, Mombasa and Embu.

Some of them were accompanied by their parents and guardians while others were on their own.

Speaking to the Star, most of the parents said they are facing challenges in transport as most of the matatus had hiked fares.

“We were here at the stage as early as 6 am only to find the matatus wakilipisha expensive. From here to Machakos we usually pay Sh200 but today they are charging Sh400,” the parent said.

Another student also decried the fare hike to Sh700 from Nairobi to Nyeri. On the other normal days, matatus usually charge Sh350 from Nairobi to Nyeri.

Learners are reopening schools for the third term as the government introduces new reforms in the education sector.

For the 2023 academic year, the third and final term begins on August 28 and will run to October 27.

This will be the shortest and critical term in the year, due to the forthcoming national examinations.

Students will also not go for a mid-term break in between the term.

Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) for Grade 6, Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams for Std 8 will begin on October 30, 2023, and continue through November 2, 2023.

The Kenya Certificate Secondary Education (KCSE) exams will begin on November 3 and conclude on November 24, 2023.

KCSE marking will begin on November 27 to December 15.

The regular school calendar was reinstated this year after disruptions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

The pandemic necessitated the closure of basic educational institutions, prompting adjustments to the school calendar by the Ministry of Education.