Grade 10 woes: Hundreds of students remain stranded due to lack of fees

Some parents have taken their children to schools without paying fees, hoping for last-minute admission as the deadline lapses.

This comes as the Ministry of Interior announced that 70 per cent of Grade 10 learners have already been traced during a week-long mop-up exercise aimed at ensuring full transition to senior school.

On Wednesday morning in Kisii County, Purity Obiero was still making phone calls in a desperate attempt to raise school fees for her daughter, who hopes to join Itiero Girls High School.

For Deborah Makiya, the extended admission window closed without success, dashing her hopes of joining a category two school after the mop-up exercise failed to yield a breakthrough for her family.

“The government said you will be arrested and taken to the police station to explain why your child has not gone to school, yet we are really struggling. When I hear the chief is coming, I run away and leave the child behind,” said Obiero.

Boronyi Assistant Chief Isaiah Mokua said many families are financially strained and unable to afford schools far from home.

“Some families are not able. They are very poor and the schools they were called to are far. We advise them to at least take their children to schools within their locality so that they can get admission,” he said.

At Kebirigio Boys Senior School, learners were still reporting for admission, some arriving with empty boxes and without money for fees.

The school said several parents had requested more time to raise funds before completing the admission process.

“We are hopeful that we might hit the target or miss it narrowly, but generally, what we have observed in the last few days are extremely needy cases. Some students are coming here without basic items or uniforms, and the school has had to chip in,” said Deputy Principal James Ogari.

In Mombasa, dozens of parents also flocked to chiefs’ offices in areas such as Mwembe Tayari seeking assistance to secure admission for their children.

The Ministry of Interior said the mop-up exercise has so far achieved a 70 per cent admission rate, even as some parents blamed the government for the situation.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said there should be no justification for learners missing out on admission, citing the availability of bursaries and community resources.

“There should be no reason why, with the many bursaries and resources we have in the community, a child cannot transition. Even if they do not get their school of choice, perhaps a more expensive school, they should be able to transition to a neighbouring school,” said Murkomen.

Mombasa resident Hashim Suleiman questioned the prioritisation of government spending, calling for youth programmes funds to be redirected to support learners who are yet to report to school.

“There is money the government is giving youths through the Nyota programme. Why can that money not be redirected to help students who are still out of school, then other programmes can follow later?” he said.

With the government confirming a 70 per cent success rate in the mop-up drive, questions remain over how the remaining learners will be supported and how schools absorbing additional students will be facilitated.