What not to carry when joining form one this year

With form one selection concluded yesterday, KCPE candidates are now planning to join various secondary schools where they have secured admission. Parents on the other hand are working hard to buy various items that their children will need to stay comfortably in school especially the boarding schools.

Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha has issued a directive to any parent preparing their children to join form one not to buy the following items;

1. Hockey stick- It has been a tradition in most Kenyan secondary schools for students to buy hockey sticks when joining form one. This is not going to be the case this year as the CS is looking to cut the parents expenditure and make education affordable.

2. Exercise books- Magoha expects schools to offer free exercise books to students on admission, the students will not be required to bring with them Atlases and mathematical tables as these are expected to be in school’s library.

3. Pangas, slashers and Jembes- Students will also not be required to bring with them farm tools including pangas, slashers and Jembes. These are required in some secondary schools as they are used for cleaning and agriculture projects conducted in secondary schools.

4. Photocopy papers- Photocopy papers are used to prepare exams mostly in secondary schools, students will however not be required to carry them this time as the cost of living has risen to an extent that very few parents can afford them.

5. Hand-brushes – These brushes are used for cleaning but the CS feels like it is not important to carry these brushes to school.