This archive report was first published on 28 September 2019.
The collapse of a school in Nairobi, which resulted in the loss of at least seven lives, has brought to the forefront the need for standards in school construction. The Ministry of Education has taken steps to deregister two schools, including the one affected by the collapse, and the Nairobi county government has dismissed officers in charge of regulating construction.
However, these efforts may not be enough to address the underlying issues in Kenya's education system. Since the introduction of free primary education in 2003, the government has struggled to maintain standards in primary and secondary schools. The lack of sufficient supply of schools and teachers has led to increasing class sizes and declining learning outcomes.
Private schools have mushroomed across the country, catering to both high-income and low-income households. However, the quality of these schools varies greatly, and it is no longer a guarantee that escaping the public sector guarantees good learning outcomes. In fact, the best public schools are often the best placed to provide quality education for the majority of Kenyan pupils.
It is essential to understand how Kenya's education system has reached this point. A methodical reevaluation of how the education sector is managed is necessary to address the problems manifested in incidents such as the school collapse. This includes regularly inspecting the safety of schools and establishing basic minimums for safety reasons in school design and construction.
Government investment in the design and construction of public schools throughout the country could create immense demand for services of architects, material scientists, quantity surveyors, and other related sectors. This would not only improve the quality of education but also contribute to the generation of tax revenue.
As the writer notes, 'we have already proven that this can be done.' The problem lies in losing direction over the years. The recent tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for a serious national effort to build and maintain durable and safe schools.
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