Murugi Munyi Explains Why Primary School Homework Must Be Abolished

Murugi Munyi has sparked a national conversation about the pressures facing Kenyan primary school students. Through a series of Instagram stories, the popular content creator advocated for the total abolition of homework or a significant reduction to just once per week.

Munyi, who is well-known for her lifestyle and parenting content, shared her views with her large following. She argued that the current expectations placed on young children are unsustainable and hinder their natural development.

The Case for Rest

Munyi compared the school day to an adult’s working day. She noted that children are often in class from 8:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. For many students, the day does not end there. Long commutes mean some pupils do not reach home until 5:30 p.m.

“If I was miraculously one day made the CS of education, I’d abandon all homework, I’d petition that homework should not be given to primary school children, particularly,” Munyi said.

By the time they eat and change, they are left with little time to relax. Munyi stated that expecting them to then complete an hour of extra work is borderline oppressive.

She argued that like adults, children need time to decompress, unplug, and unwind after a long day of learning subjects like Maths, English, and Swahili.

"Why do we then expect children having learned all day... to come home and now they expecting you to work some more. No."

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Learning is not limited to textbooks, Munyi argued. She suggested that playing with friends, interacting with the environment, and engaging in hobbies like colouring or swimming are vital forms of education.

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She noted that while the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) is a "good departure" from the previous 8-4-4 system, there is still a "distance to go."

She believes the education system must evolve to accommodate these alternative forms of learning as valid.

Looking to the UK Model

During the discussion, Munyi shared insights from a follower living in the United Kingdom. In that system, some schools only issue homework once a week on Fridays. This work typically takes no more than 30 minutes to complete.

Munyi expressed a desire for this to become the standard in Kenya. She even resolved to speak with her own children’s school administration to discuss a change in policy.

"I am hereby advocating for this to be the standard in KENYA."

Communication Over Extra Work

While some parents use homework to track their child’s progress, Munyi proposed alternatives to daily tasks. She suggested that school diaries or simply reviewing classwork books could keep parents informed.

"There's a way that we can be kept up to date and informed as parents... without it requiring the child to do more work," she said.

She also noted that, in many cases, parents are not actively helping with the work, simply telling children to "go sit on the table and do your homework".

The Current Context

The debate comes at a time when Kenyan parents are increasingly vocal about the demands of the CBC. While the curriculum aims to be more practical, the volume of assignments has been a point of contention for many families.