Update Monday, February 6, 2023:The management of Uhuru Superstores in Kisii on Monday, February 6, promised to pay Gesare’s school fees for the first year in high school, adding that they would continue to support her even in the subsequent years to ease the family of the financial burden.
“We were touched and decided to pay her school fees which we feel is the most important thing to enable her to pursue her high school education,” the manager stated.
After failing to raise school fees for form one admission, parents of a girl who scored 409 marks in the 2022 KCPE exams want their daughter to repeat class 8.
Martha Gesare secured admission to Asumbi Girls High School but her parents were only able to buy a metal box for her out of the many requirements.
Gesare’s primary school education was funded by a local MCA who stated that he could not continue sponsoring her after he lost the seat in the August 2022 elections.
Her family stated that they sought help from many institutions but their efforts were futile, explaining that having her repeat class 8 would give them enough time to raise the money required for her secondary school education.
“I am supposed to join Asumbi girls on Monday, February 6, but that is not possible because my family cannot raise the money, Gesare stated.
Abel Getange, Gesare’s father stated that they were able to buy the metal box after selling some trees, but the money was not enough for her other needs.
Additionally, he stated that having Gesare repeat would give him the much needed time to try and find sponsorship for Gesare’s education because the many institutions he had approached were unresponsive.
“I think she has already suffered enough psychologically. Maybe if she goes back to class 8, she will get sponsorship for the next year,” Gesare’s father stated.
Her mother, Joan Kwamboka, holding on to the hope of her daughter realising her dream of becoming a doctor, stated that Gesare was determined to work hard in school.
“She knows that she was brought up in a family that does not have much money but she is determined to work hard and change our situation and even help other students who similarly cannot afford to pay fees,” Kwamboka added.
Form one reporting exercise began on Monday, February 6, as communicated in a prior notice by the Ministry of Education.
Speaking during the release of the first placement results on Monday, January 16, Education CS Ezekiel Machogu reiterated that the government had plans in place to ensure 100 percent transition to secondary school for all candidates
Moreover, on Saturday, February 4, the Ministry of Education announced the conclusion of the process of reviewing requests for candidates who made applications to change their initial placement for the 2023 selection.
The school calendar normlised this year after the disruption that was caused by the pandemic. However, parents are confronting rough economic times amid high cost of living and inflation.
The government has set aside up to Ksh 22,000 in capitation for every student in secondary school.
