2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census “Counting Our People for Implementation of Vision 2030” VOLUME IX Education

Abstract

Kenya‟s Vision 2030 identifies education and training sector as a key element and one of the pillars in the country‟s plans for socioeconomic development. Recent policy initiatives have focused on attainment of Education for All (EFA), achievement of Millennium Development Goals and Universal Basic Education (UBE). The key concerns have been access, retention, equity, quality, relevance, and internal and external efficiencies within the education system. The Government introduced Free Primary Education (FPE) in January 2003, as a strategy for providing equal education opportunities for all. In 2008, Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) was also introduced to ensure students from poor households have access to secondary education as part of basic education. The 2009 Population and Housing Census questionnaire contained three questions on education: status of school attendance, highest level of education reached, and highest level of education completed. The target population was those aged 3 and above. The questionnaire captured information on both formal (pre-primary, primary, secondary, middle level institutions and university) and non-formal education (basic literacy - adult literacy classes and madrassa). The information was further analyzed to determine the population in education institutions who are orphans, persons with disabilities, and those who have access to computers and internet. Analysis of school attendance revealed that 41.1 percent of the population was attending school in 2009, while 41.4 percent were reported to have left school, and 17.6 percent never attended school. In comparison with the 1999 census, there was an increase in the population attending school from 34.9 percent in 1999 to 41.1 percent in 2009. About 39.0 percent of the urban population aged 3 and above was attending school in 2009 compared to 42.0 percent in rural areas. In terms of gender, 44.5 percent males and 39.7 percent females were attending school in rural areas compared to 39.4 percent males and 38.5 percent females in urban areas. The peak of school attendance is at age 6-14 years for both sexes. At all ages except age 3-4, the male population attending school was higher than that of females. The increase in education attendance could be attributed to implementation of FPE and FDSE programmes as well as expansion of public and private universities in the last decade. Nairobi, Central and Nyanza reported higher proportions attending school at all age groups compared to the national average, while North Eastern reported the lowest. The population that left school declined from 47.2 percent in 1999 to 41.4 percent in 2009. The school dropout rate was lower between ages 6 and 12 but rose from age 13 with more girls dropping out of school than boys, from age 9. More males than females dropped out of primary school in all provinces except Nyanza. At secondary school level, more females than males dropped out of school in Central, Nyanza and Western provinces. The census data reveals low progression of the population to secondary school and higher levels of education. The proportion that never attended school dropped marginally from 17.9 percent in 1999 to 17.6 percent in 2009.