National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has called on the Ministry of Education (Kenya) to introduce a clear policy on school uniforms aimed at easing the financial burden on parents and ensuring schools focus on education rather than commercial activities.
Speaking on the issue during a gathering in Uriri, Migori County, Ichung’wah argued that the current system forces parents to purchase new uniforms unnecessarily when learners transition from primary school to Junior Secondary School (JSS).
“The other thing we want the ministry to do is to come up with a policy on school uniform because there is absolutely no reason why a child would go from Grade One up to Grade Six with one uniform, then when they move from Grade Six to Grade Seven in junior secondary school they are being asked to buy another uniform,” he said.
Push for Uniform Consistency Between Primary and JSS
The legislator proposed that uniforms worn in primary school should remain the same when learners transition to junior secondary school, eliminating the need for families to buy entirely new sets of uniforms during the shift to Grade Seven.
According to Ichung’wah, harmonizing the uniform policy would help reduce education costs for many households already grappling with rising expenses.
“We want a policy where uniform in primary school and JSS is the same uniform,” he stated.
Ichung’wah UrgeS Schools to Focus on Education, Not Uniform Sales
Ichung’wah further criticized the practice of schools selling uniforms directly to parents, saying the trend risks turning learning institutions into retail outlets rather than centers of education.
He urged the Ministry of Education to ensure school heads concentrate on teaching and mentoring learners instead of engaging in uniform sales.
“We have also asked the Ministry of Education to make sure schools and school heads focus on educating and mentoring children. Schools must not become uniform shops,” he said.
The call comes amid ongoing discussions about education reforms and the implementation of the competency-based curriculum, which introduced junior secondary school as a new level in Kenya’s education system.
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