It’s Not Too Late: How Parents of Pre-Teens Can Still Build an Education Fund

The good news is that it is not too late.

In fact, the ongoing transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and the recent move of learners into Grade 10 have shown many families why education planning cannot wait until the next admission letter arrives. Across the country, parents have faced the reality of rising education costs, uncertainty around Senior School pathways, and the financial demands that come with transitioning children into the next stage of learning. Reports emerged of some learners delaying their transition to Grade 10 because their families could not immediately meet the required costs, highlighting the importance of preparing ahead rather than reacting to school fee demands when they arise.

This is where Jubilee Life’s Smart Scholar education Plan becomes particularly relevant. Designed as both an education savings and protection solution, Smart Scholar helps parents systematically build an education fund while ensuring that a child’s educational future remains protected if the unexpected happens. Rather than relying on last-minute borrowing, fundraisers, or financial stress, families can create a structured plan to support future education expenses.

Why Many Kenyan Parents Feel They Started Late

For many households, education planning often takes a back seat during the early years of a child’s life. Parents are busy managing hospital bills, childcare expenses, rent, food, transport, and the many costs that come with raising a young family. By the time a child reaches Grade 5, Grade 6, or Grade 7, reality begins to set in.

Parents suddenly realize that Junior Secondary School is around the corner. Senior School is not far away. University, which once seemed distant, is approaching faster than expected.

This realization is common, especially among parents who grew up under the 8-4-4 system and are now navigating CBC with their children. The structure of education has changed and so have the financial requirements.

The Grade 10 Transition Was a Wake-Up Call

The first cohort of CBC learners transitioning into Grade 10 exposed financial challenges that many families had not anticipated. Questions emerged about pathway selections, school placements, boarding requirements, transport expenses, and the overall affordability of Senior School education. Education officials themselves acknowledged public concern regarding the costs associated with the transition.

For many parents, the Grade 10 experience was a reminder that educational milestones arrive quickly. A child who is currently 10, 11, or 12 years old may be only a few years away from some of the most expensive stages of their education journey.

The lesson for parents of pre-teens is clear: while starting early is ideal, starting today is far better than postponing planning until the next educational transition.

The Cost of Education Doesn’t End with School Fees

One of the biggest misconceptions among parents is that education planning simply means saving for school fees. Education costs are much broader and continue increasing throughout a child’s academic journey.

Parents today are paying for uniforms, textbooks, transport, meals, examinations, school trips, digital learning tools, and CBC-related project materials. As learners move into Junior Secondary and Senior School, pathway-specific requirements can introduce additional expenses linked to practical learning and specialized subjects.

University introduces another set of costs, including tuition, accommodation, technology devices, internet access, and day-to-day upkeep.

When viewed collectively, educating a child from primary school to graduation requires substantial financial commitment. The earlier parents begin preparing, the easier these costs become to manage.

Why Six Years Can Still Make a Huge Difference

Many parents assume that if their child is already 11 or 12 years old, there is insufficient time to build a meaningful education fund. This assumption is often incorrect.

Consider a parent whose child is currently in Grade 6. That parent still has several years before university education becomes necessary. Even before university, there is time to prepare for Junior Secondary and Senior School requirements.

Consistent contributions made over the next six to ten years can accumulate into a substantial fund compared to waiting until admission letters arrive. The key is not necessarily how much money a parent starts with, but whether they start at all.

Financial planning works best when given time, which is why education-focused products are designed to encourage disciplined, long-term saving.

How Jubilee Smart Scholar Helps Parents Plan

Jubilee Smart Scholar was developed specifically to help families prepare for future education costs while providing peace of mind along the way. The plan combines education savings with protection benefits, creating a structured approach to funding a child’s future education.

Through the plan, parents can make regular contributions while benefiting from annual bonuses. At maturity, policyholders receive the sum assured together with accrued bonuses, helping create a financial resource that can be directed toward education expenses.

An important advantage of Smart Scholar is that it does not focus solely on saving. It also addresses risks that could disrupt a child’s education. In the unfortunate event of the policyholder’s death, future premiums are waived, the policy continues, and benefits remain available to support the child’s educational future. Similarly, provisions exist for cases involving total and permanent disability.

For many Kenyan families, this combination of savings and protection makes education planning more comprehensive than relying solely on an ordinary savings account.

Education Planning Is About More Than Money

Behind every education plan is a dream.

Some parents dream of seeing their children become doctors, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, or accountants. Others simply want to ensure that their children never miss educational opportunities because of financial challenges.

Recent stories surrounding Grade 10 admissions demonstrated that educational ambition alone is not enough. Bright, hardworking learners can still face barriers when families are unprepared financially.

Education planning helps reduce that risk. It transforms schooling from a recurring financial emergency into a long-term goal with a clear strategy.

The Best Time to Start Is Now

If your child is already a pre-teen, there is no reason to panic. What matters most is not when you should have started, but whether you begin today.

Every year that passes without a plan reduces the time available to prepare for future education costs. Conversely, every contribution made today moves your child closer to a more secure educational future.

With education costs continuing to rise, CBC introducing new learning requirements, and major milestones such as Grade 10 and university approaching faster than many parents expect, having a dedicated education planning solution is increasingly important.

Jubilee Smart Scholar provides parents, guardians, and even older siblings supporting younger family members with a practical way to save toward future education costs while protecting the dreams that matter most. Because when it comes to a child’s education, it is never too late to start planning, but there is no better time than now.