Over the past six years, the Ministry of Education, with the support of a World Bank funded initiative, has significantly enhanced the quality of education in 135 specific sub-counties in Kenya.
The Kenya Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (SEQIP) meticulously selected these sub-counties across 30 counties based on stringent criteria. From 2017 to December 2023, this project has yielded substantial improvements in teaching standards and various educational benchmarks.
Under the guidance of Dr. Elijah Mungai, the Director of the Directorate of Projects Coordination and Delivery in the State Department for Basic Education, notable achievements have been recorded. These include a notable decrease in the shortage of teachers for Science, Mathematics, and English in targeted regions. The Teachers Service Commission successfully employed 2,592 secondary and 920 primary school teachers to address this shortfall.
Furthermore, innovative approaches were introduced to bolster teaching quality. Live streaming of lessons was piloted in ten satellite schools affiliated with two principal institutions. Moreover, professional development received a boost through a school-based support system benefiting 51,950 educators across 6,500 primary and 2,000 secondary schools.
In terms of educational resources, a substantial number of textbooks were distributed. A total of 2,254,782 Science, Mathematics, and English textbooks reached Grade Seven and Eight learners in 7,852 primary schools, while 4,329,057 textbooks were supplied to learners in Form One to Four across 2,147 secondary schools. Additionally, resources were allocated to cater to students with disabilities, including brailled textbooks, printed texts, and assistive devices distributed to 2,145 learners.
Improvements extended beyond academic resources to infrastructural enhancements. Measures were taken to improve retention rates in upper primary school and facilitate the transition to secondary education. This included the construction of 1,053 additional classrooms, 861 laboratories, and 1,896 sanitation facilities. Moreover, plans were set in motion for the establishment of a state-of-the-art training facility at CEMASTEA.
Recognizing the importance of community involvement, the Ministry of Education undertook advocacy, community mobilization, and gender sensitization programs across 1,476 locations within the targeted sub-counties. Notably, 1,478,135 sanitary towels were distributed to support girls’ hygiene needs, promoting gender equity in education.
In essence, the concerted efforts of the Ministry of Education, supported by the World Bank funded SEQIP, have resulted in tangible improvements in educational quality and access across the targeted sub-counties, laying a solid foundation for the future of Kenya’s education system.
