Low turnout marks day one of learning as schools reopen for 2025 first term

The reopening of schools for the first term of 2025 has been marked by low attendance in Nairobi and other regions, with few students seen at bus termini and schools on Monday morning.

The Ministry of Education announced that term one will last 13 weeks, including a five-day mid-term break.

The first day of the academic year saw a low turnout, with reports suggesting that many students are expected to report on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

Despite the low turnout, matatus hiked fares to different destinations.

In Eastleigh, attendance in schools such as Eastleigh Airport Primary and New Eastleigh Primary was notably low. Less than a quarter of students returned on the first day, according to a teacher at Eastleigh Airport Primary.

“We’ve recorded very low numbers, with each class having around 10 students compared to the usual around 50 students,” teacher James Njunguna told The Eastleigh Voice.

In other schools, students were advised to report on Wednesday due to a lack of preparedness for their admission.

Low turnout was also reported in Garissa County.

Primary and junior secondary students from Garissa Primary and Junior Secondary School were seen walking to school on Monday, marking a subdued start to the academic year.

Anti-abduction protests

While reasons for the low turnout remain unclear, planned protests to demand the release of Kenyans abducted in recent weeks may have contributed to the hesitation.

Posts circulating on social media indicated that the demonstrations would disrupt key routes in Nairobi, including Uhuru Highway, Mombasa Road, and Waiyaki Way.

The protests aimed to demand the release of six individuals. However, even before they started, four of the abducted individuals were released on Monday morning.

The families of Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, Bernard Kavuli, and Rony Kiplangat confirmed contact with them, with two being physically reunited with their families.

Capitation delays, financial strain

But as schools reopen, parents have expressed frustration over increased fees, with some reporting additional costs of up to Sh5,000 outside the standard fee structures.

"We were told via text messages to pay Sh5,000 per child, with no explanation of its purpose," said a parent with a student at Mbooni Girls High School.

Headteachers are reportedly grappling with financial constraints as basic education institutions await capitation funds from the government which is yet to release 50 per cent of the annual capitation.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba acknowledged the delay in a statement on Saturday, confirming that Sh48.38 billion would be disbursed as part of the 50 per cent annual allocation.

However, he did not specify when the funds would be released.

Grade 8 students transitioning to Grade 9 also faced challenges, with some schools lacking classrooms to accommodate them. Some schools have also not yet received textbooks under the government programme, leaving parents unable to purchase the necessary learning materials.

This is despite the Ministry revealing that nearly 10 million textbooks have been distributed to schools. CS Ogamba said full delivery of the books was expected by reopening day.

Book vendors in Nairobi have also felt the impact of the Ministry of Education's abrupt decision to introduce new course books for comprehensive schools.

Booksellers’ losses

On Ronald Ngala Street, second-hand booksellers reported significant losses due to unsold stocks of outdated materials.

"I’ve been here for 10 years, and the government keeps changing books over time. It’s frustrating, but I don’t have any other option because I need to feed my family. Business has been very slow for a long time, and it has really affected us," Samuel Mwangi said.

"It’s not that I don’t want to keep up — it’s just hard to make enough money with how things are. Despite everything, I have to keep going because I need to provide for my family and their future."

In contrast, some book vendors in other areas reported a surge in demand.

In Eastleigh, the business has significantly picked up as parents came out to purchase textbooks for their children.

Bookshops and street vendors reported that they have experienced a notable rise in demand for school supplies over the past three days.

Boarding schools

Meanwhile, parents of children in 348 schools whose boarding facilities were recently closed due to safety concerns are also navigating the transfer process to other schools following the Ministry of Education directives.

The directives were initiated following findings of an audit conducted after the tragic fire that killed 21 learners at Hillside Endarasha Academy in August 2024, which raised concerns over the safety conditions in these schools.

The government has urged parents to register their children for the Taifa Care health scheme, replacing the EduAfya medical insurance cover under the new Social Health Insurance Fund introduced by President William Ruto.

Despite these hurdles, schools have reopened, and students are gradually returning as the new academic year begins.

 

Reporting by Lucy Mumbi, Barrack Oduor, Abdirahman Khalif, Issa Hussein, Justine Ondieki