Rough start to the school year, again

Kenya's education system has plunged into unprecedented chaos as the 2025 school year begins, marked by widespread defiance of ministry directives, infrastructure challenges, and mounting financial pressures on parents.

School principals across the country have openly defied Education Ministry orders by implementing fee increases, adding to parents' financial burdens as they struggle with rising educational costs. The situation has created immediate tension between school administrators and government authorities, with many families caught in the middle.

The crisis is further complicated by significant challenges in implementing the pioneer Grade 9 program. The Education Ministry has acknowledged these difficulties, and in response, is considering an unprecedented shift learning system to accommodate the new grade level due to infrastructure limitations. This potential solution highlights the severe resource constraints facing the education sector.

Education reform group Elimu Bora has characterized 2025 as the most unusual school year in four decades, pointing to empty classrooms and widespread financial difficulties. The organization is urgently calling for immediate reforms to address these systemic challenges.

President Ruto's administration now faces major challenges related to school reopening, as stakeholders seek solutions to the mounting crisis. The situation has been exacerbated by delays in implementing planned education reforms creating uncertainty for students, parents, and educators alike.

As the academic year unfolds, education officials, school administrators, and parents are grappling with these multiple challenges, making the start of 2025 a critical period for Kenya's education sector. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining how these various issues are addressed and what solutions can be implemented to stabilize the system.