Finance Bill Demos: Schools begin releasing students early for mid-term break

This is after a number of schools across the country began making plans to release students for the mid-term break – earlier than intended and even communicated to parents.

Some of the parents who spoke to Wananchi Reporting said the sudden invitation from schools asking them to pick their children had strained their pockets -- since many have not been paid salaries.

Ms. Maryanne Wangeci who has a daughter in Form 2 in one of the boarding schools in the outskirts of Nairobi told Wananchi Reporting that she received a message on the afternoon of Saturday, June 23, from the school asking her to make plans to pick her daughter on Monday 25, June 2024.

The message – which she shared with Wananchi Reporting – cites the recent unrest/maandamano as the main reason students will be released earlier than the intended date of Wednesday 26, June 2024.

One of the letters sent via mobile phone to a parent reads:

"Dear parent/guardian. Due to the ongoing maandamano, you are advised to pick your child from school for mid-term break on Mon 24/6/24 from 10:00am instead of the earlier communicated date. She is expected to report back on Monday 1/7/24 by 1pm. Please make the necessary transport arrangements."

NB Clear school fees. Chief Principal.

There are also reports that some boarding schools are already releasing students over uncertainty with regards to recent heightened activities regarding demons against the Finance Bill 2024 by especially the young people of Kenya. Many fear transport and movement could be affected.

According to some of the parents who spoke to Wananchi Reporting, schools are taking precautionary measures to ensure safety of their children returning home for the mid-term beak this week.

“It’s good to take these precautionary measures, but I am concerned because some parents now have to suddenly travel for hundreds of kilometers to pick their children at a short notice,” said Veronica Mwende, also a parent with a daughter in school.

Those who don’t have to travel, have to still raise bus fare to ensure their children can travel back home safely.

The Ministry of Education in May announced an extension of the academic calendar for the current year specifically for the second and third terms, after floods wreaked havoc across the country – leaving many schools submerged in water.

Initially scheduled to resume on April 29th, the start of the second term had to be postponed to May 13^th due to vagaries of floods. This was after President William Ruto in his national address announced the indefinite postponement of all school reopening owing to the floods.

And now, with the unrest currently witnessed in Nairobi, and some parts of the country – parents with children in school are scratching their heads as schools across the country look to break for midterm this week.