Education

• General Information
• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools
• Colleges
• Public Universities
• Private Universities
• International Schools
• Conducting research
• Studying Abroad
• UK Universities

Primary School education in Kenya

The Goverment has managed to get all the primary school age children in the country to enrol in school. The ambitious project that has been in effect since January 2003, has seen a tremendous increase in enrolment, standing at 7.4 million( Economic Survey 2005).

An increment in budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Education and the setting up of a Constituency Bursary Fund has also been key to ensuring the success of this project.The implementation of the Universal Free Primary Education, as part of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), has earned Kenya the prestigious Education Award.

---

Primary Education

Primary Education is the first phase of the national 8:4:4 system of Education. The course lasts eight years and ensures the provision of a more functional and practical education that largely meets the needs of the majority of the children who terminate their formal Education at the end of standard eight. It also caters for those wishing to join secondary schools.

Primary Education is universal and free but not compulsory in Kenya. The age range is 6-14 years. One of the objectives of primary Education, among many others is to develop self-expression, self-discipline, self reliance and full utilization of a child's senses.

Schools are either Private or Public. Public Primary schools are government aided and individuals, religious organizations etc run Private primary schools.

There are five categories of primary schools:
Day Primary - form bulk of schools in Kenya
Low cost boarding schools
Medium cost boarding schools
High Cost boarding schools
Arid Zone Primary schools

Candidates for KCPE are tested in the following seven subjects:
Kiswahili
English
Mathematics
Science and Agriculture (SCA)
Home Science & Business Education (HSBE)
Geography, History & Civics (GHC)
Art , Craft & Music (ACM)
Each subject is awarded 100 marks.
Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE)

At the end of eight years, pupils sit for a National terminal examination (KCPE) whose primary objectives are to:

• Rank candidates according to attainment of knowledge,skills and attitudes as specified in the various syllabuses.
• Improve the learning process in primary schools by providing the schools with constant feedback on candidates' performances.
• Use performance as bases for selecting pupils to secondary schools and to post-primary Technical Training Institutions.

Curriculum in primary schools throughout the country is similar and is developed by national panels at the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE).

To ensure that education is accessible to all, the government provides boarding facilities to districts where people lead nomadic life and where children find it difficult to attend schools as day pupils.

The Pupil/Teacher ratio is 31 for 1991/92.

Certification

Two certificates are awarded to students, these are;

The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education awarded by Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC)

The Kenya Primary Leaving Certificate issued by the headteacher of the school with the authority of the Director of Education.