In a revealing twist, new data from the Ministry of Education has brought a pressing concern to the forefront – there are more boys than girls enrolled in junior secondary schools across Kenya.
This intriguing revelation comes from a comprehensive report on the funding of junior secondary schools, shedding light on regional disparities and the challenges girls still face in accessing education.
Despite the implementation of the Free Primary Education capitation, gender parity remains elusive in the majority of counties.
A staggering three-quarters of Kenyan counties have yet to bridge the gender gap in their schools, highlighting a glaring disparity.
The statistics paint a compelling picture.
Out of the 925,752 students enrolled in Grade Seven in public schools, a significant majority, 470,854, are boys.
The gender divide is unmistakable, with male students consistently outnumbering their female counterparts in many counties.
In Kakamega, for instance, there are 24,767 boys compared to 24,088 girls.
A similar trend is observed in Bungoma, with 22,946 boys and 21,989 girls, and Nakuru, where the numbers are 21,767 boys and 20,255 girls.
These figures serve as a wakeup call, urging educators and policymakers to reevaluate their strategies to ensure an equitable education system.
Digging deeper into the data, when examining constituencies, the disparities become even more pronounced.
Kinango stands out as having a higher average enrollment of boys compared to other constituencies, with 3,750 boys as opposed to 3,611 girls.
In Mt Elgon, there are 3,639 boys and 3,253 girls, while Kanduyi reports 3,623 boys and 3,478 girls.
Alego Usonga and Naivasha constituencies are not far behind, with 3,255 boys and 3,242 girls, and 3,255 boys and 3,082 girls, respectively.
The pattern continues in Mbooni, where 3,140 boys significantly outnumber the 2,730 girls, while Cherangany reports 3,097 boys and 2,863 girls.
Ndiwa and Bumula follow suit, with 3,032 boys and 2,836 girls, and 3,025 boys and 2,831 girls, respectively.
However, some constituencies report shockingly low enrollment numbers, such as Lagdera with 177 boys and 151 girls, Lafey with 212 boys and 128 girls, Eldas with 241 boys and 108 girls, Lamu East with 246 boys and 222 girls, and Balambala with 296 boys and 189 girls. These figures are a stark reminder of the urgent need for change.
On a positive note, female enrollment shines in urban areas and the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) regions.
Nairobi, for instance, boasts a total of 21,012 girls and 19,601 boys.
Roysambu constituency takes the lead with 1,456 boys compared to 1,609 girls, while Embakasi North reports 1,312 boys and 1,509 girls, and Kasarani with 1,391 boys and 1,434 girls.
These regions are beacons of hope, demonstrating that gender equality in education can be achieved.
Other counties also stand out with higher numbers of girls, including West Pokot (6,341 boys, 6,594 girls), Nyeri (6,396 boys, 6,463 girls), Turkana (4,834 boys, 4,941 girls), and Tana River, where the numbers are evenly matched at 2,789 boys and 2,726 girls.
Remarkably, in Kajiado North and Hamisi, the balance between boys and girls is strikingly equal, with both regions reporting 1,530 boys and 1,714 girls. Such parity is a testament to the possibility of achieving gender balance in education.
However, not all counties share this encouraging trend. Murang’a, with 11,140 boys and 10,515 girls, Bungoma, with 22,946 boys and 21,989 girls, Kitui, with 16,025 boys and 14,737 girls, Makueni, with 13,667 boys against 12,472 girls, and Mandera, with 3,926 boys and 2,689 girls, continue to grapple with significant gender disparities.
The data from the Ministry of Education underscores the pressing need for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to ensure that all children, regardless of their gender, have access to quality education.
The disparities revealed in this report should serve as a rallying cry for educators, policymakers, and communities to come together to bridge the gender gap and create a brighter, more equitable future for all of Kenya’s youth.
Only through concerted efforts can we truly close this chapter on gender inequality in education.
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Mr. Weldon Kosgei, a dedicated educator with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in Kenya, brings years of experience and a deep love for education to his role at TSCNewsToday.co.ke. He provides insightful and timely updates on TSC policies, educational trends, and best practices, making his articles valuable resources for educators and administrators. Mr. Kosgei’s commitment to enhancing education shines through in his writing, connecting and inspiring the teaching community across Kenya.
