Access to Quality Education in Kenya Continues to Elude Numerous Children.
As per the Basic Education Act 14 OF 2013, providing free and mandatory education to all Kenyan children is a constitutional mandate. However, many Kenyan children still find access to education an elusive dream, yearning to join their peers in a classroom setting.
The Kenya Demographic and Health Surveys reveal a troubling statistic: more than 1.5 million children and teenagers aged 6 and 13 are deprived of this essential right. Despite the government’s commitment to providing free and compulsory education, several factors contribute to the unmet educational needs of Kenyan children.
One of the primary impediments is extreme poverty, which forces families to forgo their children’s education due to the financial strain of acquiring uniforms and school supplies, even in ostensibly “free” schools. In some instances, parents are compelled to contribute to their children’s lunch, placing education beyond their financial reach and leading to dropouts.
Gender-based discrimination is another significant issue, particularly in regions where male children receive education while their female siblings do not, often due to poverty or cultural biases. Girls with similar backgrounds to their male counterparts are four times more likely to abandon their educational pursuits. The poorest girls face the greatest odds against completing their high school education.
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Children with disabilities face heightened challenges as they are more prone to absenteeism. Shockingly, in Kenya, fewer than ten percent of children with disabilities attend primary school, underscoring the need for inclusive educational policies.
Child marriage is a concerning issue, with early marriages and pregnancies driving girls out of basic education institutions. Those who attempt to return to school after such experiences often face bullying and social isolation. Statistics indicate that 4 percent of girls in Kenya marry before the age of 15, while a similar percentage of boys marry before the age of 17.
Child labor further hinders access to education, as many children are compelled to work instead of attending school. Low-income families often rely on children to supplement their income, contributing to high dropout rates. In 2017, the International Labor Organization estimated that 152 million African children between the ages of five and seventeen were working, with Kenya being no exception.
Toxic family environments and broken families also play a role in obstructing the achievement of universal education. Toxic stress, resulting from prolonged exposure to abuse, neglect, or deprivation, can have severe physical and psychological effects on children, affecting their motivation to learn and stay in school.
For some schoolgirls, the journey to school is fraught with danger and fear, deterring them from pursuing an education. Many girls in some geographical regions face the risk of physical attacks or sexual assault when walking to school, rendering education a costly privilege in parts of the country. In rural villages, children must undertake daily, arduous, and dangerous journeys to access education.
The present administration should take steps to guarantee access to education for all children. These actions might include putting an end to underage marriages and ensuring the safety of all school-attending youngsters, among other strategies.
Access to Quality Education in Kenya Continues to Elude Numerous Children.