This archive report was first published on 22 August 2019.
On August 22, 2019, the Ministry of Education in Kenya announced plans to streamline the re-admission of learners into basic education institutions after a spell of dropping out.
The draft National Guidelines for School Re-entry in Basic Education were presented to stakeholders during a workshop at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).
The guidelines aim to provide a framework for re-entry into education for learners who dropped out for various reasons, including those living in the streets.
According to Dr. Sylvester Mulambe, the acting Director for Policy, Partnership and East African Community Affairs, factors contributing to learners dropping out include early pregnancy, child marriages, female genital mutilation, drugs and substance abuse, and bullying.
Dr. Mulambe also highlighted unmet needs for the gifted and those with disabilities, HIV and AIDS, Gender-based violence, corporal punishment, forced repetition, child labor, and human and natural disasters as contributing factors.
The guidelines aim to go beyond girl child re-entry and provide an opportunity for all learners to progress and access quality education irrespective of their circumstances.
Dr. Mulambe noted that Narok County had the highest burden of child pregnancy at 40%, followed by Homa Bay at 33%, and West Pokot at 29%.
