Kenya: Negligence of Boy Child Now Threatens Vision 2030

By Staff Writer

Survey report by the National Taxpayers Association (NTA) launched in Nairobi May 28 revealed a grim picture of the Free Primary Education (FPE), with increased dropout rates and a rising proportion of boys’ marginalization in education sector.

The report also highlighted worrying trends of absenteeism, lack of parents’ involvement in their children’s education activities and inadequate funding, all of which threatens the quality of education in public primary schools.

Findings show the national average dropout rate at the primary school level stands at three per cent, with incidence still higher for boys as more than one million pupils are currently out of school.

The report blames state of affairs on the minimal or no attention accorded to schoolboys as well as teacher absenteeism that has had direct impact on prospects of pupils completing primary education, warning over the rising neglect of the boy child and recommends efforts to bring them back to school.

Speaking at the launch, NTA Chairman Peter Kubebea emphasized the need for parents to participate in their children’s education. 

“The challenge we have now is to bring all these children to school and retain them. We need to address child labour and parent involvement in their children’s activities in various regions where it is more pronounced,” he said. 

NTA’s Programme Officer Wolde Wesa, said most of the male pupils in Kenya, abandon school to venture into economic activities, including farming, mining, cattle  herding and other manual jobs  during the release of the ‘‘2013 School Report Card.’’ 

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Jacob Kaimenyi, said efforts were being made to ensure all children are enrolled and kept in school.

“It is common knowledge to all parents that our constitution states clearly about a children rights to education and they must enroll them in schools, failure to which they can be taken to court,” he said.

The CS said enrolment in public schools currently stands at over 10 million, up from 5.9 million in 2003 when FPE was launched, with more than Sh85.9 billion disbursed to 20,830 primary public schools

The report, School Report Card 2013 records baseline data indicating a descending trend in dropouts between 2009 and 2013.

But the new concern is the increasing marginalization of the boy child even as the girl child continues to get rising support.

“While there has been commendable progress towards realizing Universal Primary Education, quality remains a major challenge across the education spectrum,” said Prof Kaimenyi.

These report by National Taxpayers Association, depicts the situation of boy child in the African continent today, which lives them prone to crime and other socially unacceptable activities that deeming them as at risk of facing extinction in the near future.