New cash cow? Schools move to unending school trips to milk parents dry after the government sealed school fees continuous increment. As schools in Kenya close for the August holidays, many parents are upset about what they see as expensive and unfair school trips.
The Ministry of Education says school officially ends on August 4, but some schools have already closed. Parents are frustrated about the many costly “educational trips” and are raising questions online about these trips’ true purpose.
Many parents feel that schools are using these trips to make money rather than provide real education. One parent said, “School leaders are taking too much money from us for these trips.”
He shared his experience of paying Sh5,500 for his daughter to go to Naivasha. However, she didn’t even leave the city; they only stopped at a bakery.
Not long after, the teacher asked for another Sh4,000 for a trip to the Giraffe Centre. This was too much for him, and after talking with other parents, most decided not to pay for any more trips this term.
He also mentioned paying Sh4,000 for a visit to the Animal Orphanage and Mamba Village, but his daughter came back home hungry because they didn’t receive lunch, even though it was part of the fee. He said the teachers ate the snacks that the kids were supposed to bring.
These issues are made worse by problems with school funding. The government has reduced the money it provides for free secondary education from Sh22,244 to Sh16,900. Because of this, some schools are closing early.
One social media user shared their experience, saying that a parent paid Sh2,000 for an airport trip, only for kids to stand outside the fence and watch planes take off. Many parents just weeks ago struggled to pay school fees now feel upset about these trips.
Another parent said their child had already gone on two trips this term and asked, “How do you tell a child no?” The feeling of disappointment is real when you pay Sh2,500 to see trains at Syokimau SGR.
Some parents are finding ways to avoid paying. One parent suggested telling their child that they can go on the trip with them instead or preparing them for the fact that money doesn’t come easily.
Another trend some parents are angry about is when schools ask them to help pay for “teacher motivation” trips. One parent said they are asked to pay Sh6,000 to Sh10,000 for teachers to go on holiday in Zanzibar. They questioned why parents need to pay for teachers’ vacations.
A sibling of a Form Four student shared that they paid for several trips this term, including Sh3,000 for maths, Sh6,500 for home science in Eldoret, and Sh21,000 for a tour in Mombasa. They are tired of paying more fees for teachers.
Some parents even wonder if school trips are useful today. One parent asked, “In this time of technology, are trips really needed?” They feel that schools are teaching children about corruption from a young age.
Despite the frustrations, a few parents shared a more understanding view. One said, “I laugh about this. I’ve been to Mombasa many times, but I still paid Sh20,000 for a school trip. I just want my son to do well.”
Another person mentioned paying Sh36,000 for their Grade 4 son for a five-day trip to Mombasa this August. They also plan to give him Sh7,000 for spending money and have already spent Sh13,000 on snacks and other items.
As schools close and parents get ready for the new term starting on August 25, the big question is: Are these trips really for education, or are they just adding more stress for parents?
