The 2021 primary-to-secondary school transition rate in Kenya fell to 75.8%, the lowest in five years, according to the Economic Survey 2022. This decline has intensified calls for policy reforms to address financial barriers preventing students from low-income families from continuing their education.
Griffin Asigo, managing director of Bridge Kenya, emphasized that secondary education must become less financially burdensome for families. "Even when primary schools prepare students academically, the high costs of secondary education often prevent them from transitioning," he stated. The challenge, he noted, extends beyond tuition fees to include expenses like uniforms, textbooks, and school maintenance.
Education experts highlight that Kenya's shared-cost model for secondary education disproportionately affects poor households. In 2018, 300,000 KCPE examinees failed to secure Form One placements, underscoring systemic gaps. Asigo linked low transition rates to long-term consequences, including increased teenage pregnancies and limited economic opportunities.
The Kenyan government has launched a universal transition program aiming for 100% enrollment, including door-to-door campaigns to locate unregistered students. President Uhuru Kenyatta reiterated this goal, pledging infrastructure expansion to accommodate all learners. Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha recently directed officials to prioritize student registration, urging chiefs and police to ensure full enrollment in secondary schools.
Despite these efforts, financial constraints remain a major obstacle. The World Bank reports that households in Sub-Saharan Africa bear a significant burden in financing secondary education, with many families spending most of their income on basic needs rather than school-related costs.
