Discussion Paper No. 14 of 2002 on the Decline in Primary School Enrolment in Kenya

Abstract

Since independence in 1963, Kenya has invested substantial resources in education. For almost three successive decades, these investments and other government policies led to impressive gains in educational access at all levels. However, in the 90s, educational participation appears to have eroded and the gains that were achieved in previous decades reversed. Aware of this trend, we use temporal and cross-section data to examine various factors that may be responsible for the decline in primary school enrolment. In particular, we consider the role of school fees, school inputs and curriculum, school availability, the expected benefits of education and the spread of HIV/AIDS. We also try to identify the most effective ways to influence policy, to reverse the current decline in primary school enrolment in the country.