Local School Systems in Kenya

 

 

Overall, the education systems in Kenya are characterized by widening disparity between private and public schools, low transition rates and constant disgruntlements by teachers. But all hope is not lost. Huge investments are being made to improve the quality and accessibility of education in Kenya in order to realize education-linked Millennium Development Goals and reaching a 100% literacy level, which presently stands at 85.1%.

The free public primary and day secondary education programs are among initiatives put in place to enhance transition rates and access to education particularly among children in low socio-economic households. However, a lot needs be done to raise the quality of education offered in public schools across primary, secondary and university levels.

Public Education Systems in Kenya

The public education system is managed by the Kenyan government under the Ministry of Education and Higher Learning. The persistent and consistent supremacy of private schools over public ones in national primary and secondary exams has brought into sharp focus the increasing achievement gaps and poor learning conditions and frameworks in the public education system.
Public education system follows the National Education Systems of Kenya referred to as 8-4-4 education system that consists of:

• Primary education: 8 years
• Secondary education: 4yrs
• University education: 4yrs

Every child is required to go through pre-primary education prior to joining any public primary school.
The public education system is exam oriented, where teachers primarily focus on cognitive abilities of students. But, efforts are being made to shift from this system of rote learning to a more skills-oriented one.

Language

Most public schools use English and Swahili as official languages although there are pre-primary schools that use vernacular languages especially in rural Kenya.

Academic Year

• An academic year starts from January through to December.
• There is a month-long break for primary and secondary schools in the month of April, August and December.

Overall Transition Rates

The level of transition rate is expected to increase with introduction of free day-secondary education and establishment of new, chartered public universities.

• 85% of all children in Kenya receive primary education
• Transition from primary to secondary schools is 75%
• And 60% transition rate from secondary school to institutions of higher learning
• Almost one million Kenyans further their studies overseas, many graduating in India, Russia, Uganda, Canada and the United States

Categorization of public schools
Public schools in Kenya are categorized in the following manner:
National public schools

• Among the oldest schools countrywide, they register among the best results and include schools such as Starehe Boys Center & School, Alliance High School, Kenya High, Alliance Girls School and Loreto High, etc.

Provincial public schools

• Students in these schools are drawn from the eight provinces of Kenya and they include Pangani Girls, Precious Blood Riruta and Friends School Kamusinga, etc.

District public schools

• They are many and are located at district levels.

Public universities

• There are at least eight public universities such as University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Moi University, Egerton University, among others

Other Types of Schools
Other than public schools, there are additional types of schools, including:
International Schools

• Often attended by children from wealthy families and from diplomatic community, they incude schools such as Brookhouse School, Braeburn School, St.Andrews Turin and Hillcrest among others

Private schools

• Run privately, they register remarkable grades among its students and they include Makini School, Riara School, Kianda School and countless others

Mission Schools

• Often run by religious organizations such as the Catholic and Presbyterian churches they include schools such as Mary Mount, St Joseph Seminary and Bahati Girls, etc.

Private Universities

• There are significant numbers
• Homeschooling is a new concept in Kenya, but it is growing steadily with implementation of 2011 policy to permit Alternative Basic Education and Training.

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Or articles about buying property in the Kenyan real estate section;- http://www.propdom.com/index.php/where/africa/kenya/kenya-real-estate

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