High dropout rates in Kenyan primary schools worrying
Pupils at Farasi Lane Primary School in Nairobi during a function on October 22, 2015. According to the Institute of Economic Affairs, even with the introduction of free education in 2003, the dropout rates in Kenyan primary schools still remain high. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- While 1.3 million children joined primary schools at the start of free primary education, only 875,300 made it to Standard Eight.
- More dropped out before completing secondary education despite the government’s move to subsidise costs by absorbing tuition costs in all public day and boarding schools.
- The IEA notes there are more dropouts in primary schools than in secondary schools, which are in dire need of expansion due to the few vacancies available.
A policy think tank has expressed serious concerns about the high number of dropouts among primary school pupils in Kenya even after the introduction of free education.
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) said that while 1.3 million children joined primary schools at the start of free primary education (FPE) by President Mwai Kibaki in 2003, only 875,300 made it to Standard Eight.
The just released report observes that while 679,000 boys enrolled in Standard One in public schools, the number dropped to 453,300, while the number of girls dropped from 632,700 to 422,000 over the same period.
More dropped out before completing secondary education despite the government’s move to subsidise costs by absorbing tuition costs in all public day and boarding schools.
The number of boys who sat in the inaugural FPE Standard Eight class dropped to 247,500 from 453,300, while only 214,100 completed secondary education compared with 422,000 who enrolled.
The IEA notes that there were more dropouts in primary schools than in secondary schools, which are in dire need of expansion due to the few vacancies available.
Secondary schools also enjoyed a major boost after the government ordered all Constituency Development Fund committees to dedicate a large percentage of their budget to improving infrastructure in public schools.
IEA-Kenya is a public policy think tank based in Nairobi that promotes the pluralism of ideas through open, active and informed debate on public policy issues.
