Parents Raise Concerns Over Reams of Paper Requested on Admission

Students on admission day at a local high school
Students on admission day at a local high school
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Parents have expressed concerns about school administrations' demands during the reopening of the school terms and the high school admission processes.

On Thursday, concerned parents raised issues about demands such as the reams of paper which are now considered mandatory during the admission process of most schools. 

 According to the parents who took to X (formely Twitter), the schools are demanding reams of paper per student, with some schools demanding more than one ream per student.

The parents raised questions, on the issue noting that the reams of paper demanded should be part of the school’s administration budget.

A photo of reams of paper collected at a school admission day
A photo of reams of paper collected at a school admission day
Saddique Shabban

Renowed journalist Saddique Shabann cried foul over the matter stating, “Kenyan secondary schools milking parents dry, with mandatory purchase of printing papers. 

Shaban lamented over the issue noting that the reams of paper requested were given priority over school fees during school admission. 

“First item to be checked even before school fees payment,” Shaban added.

Additionally, some parents are lamenting about the demands alleging that some of these papers are later sold by corrupt school officials to unscrupulous business persons who sell them for a profit.

According to the parents, the reams of paper are sold to the business people. A ream of paper is sold at Ksh 450 to the business people, who later sell it at the market rate of Ksh 750- 800.

The parents termed these demands as a criminal enterprise and are now requesting a review of the same on the school requirements.

 However, some individuals have defended the schools’ demands citing that the schools receive government funding late in the year, yet they are expected to operate under normal circumstances. 

 A statement made by an individual in support of the schools’ requests, noted that “Once you get into the system you will realise that last year’s capitation to schools was disbursed towards the end of the year”. 

That means that for the whole year, school heads had to get means of having schools running. Kids eating, exams and tests being printed”, Smith Hempstone added. 

A group of secondary students walking in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).
A group of secondary students walking in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).
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