Education

Education is the key to reducing poverty, eradicating gender inequality, creating a sustainable planet, preventing needless deaths and illness, and fostering worldwide peace. In today’s world, education is the currency by which nations maintain economic competitiveness and global prosperity. Education is the only investment that guarantees you a sure return for most countries around the world. The UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of providing universal primary education to all and eliminating gender inequities, has propelled many nations and multi-governmental organizations to boost educational spending. (Source: USAID Report 2013).
The 8-4-4 system of education in Kenya was adopted back in 1985. Various developments on Kenya’s education system have been done over the years. In 2003, the Government of Kenya instituted a free primary education for all program, and later on did the same for secondary education in 2008. This saw nearly three million more students enrol into primary school in 2012 than in 2003 and the number of schools has grown by 7,000. 
As soon as the Covid-19 virus was declared a pandemic, the education system in Kenya was severely affected. Schools were immediately shut down so as to contain the spread of the virus among children. The World Bank stepped in and gave a grant support of US$11 million for the period 2020-2021. The grant was aimed at supporting the following seven areas:

• expanding access and delivery of online content to all students in basic education through radio, television, e-cloud, and mobile phones
• training teachers and curriculum supervision officers in distant teaching methodologies
• an integrated monitoring and evaluation system for remote learning interventions
• parents and caregivers to monitor student learning
• protection and safety of all learners, especially girls, during school closures
• a smooth transition back to school through a school meals program; mentorship services for girls, including girls with special needs and disability; online psychosocial support services; communication on gender-based violence prevention for teachers, parents, and students
• building capacity of ministry staff to conduct virtual meetings during the COVID-19 period and beyond.

In 2017, the World Economic Forum rated Kenya’s education system as the strongest on the African continent. In 2018, World Bank ranked Kenya the top African country for education outcomes which translates to first out of forty-three mainland countries. In 2019, a Kenyan was named the most outstanding teacher in the world and awarded a prestigious $1million.
Education is vital to attaining Kenya’s vision 2030 and the country has made remarkable progress in its Education sector over the past decade. President Uhuru Kenyatta and the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will co-host the UK-Africa Education Summit from 28th – 29th July 2021. The summit seeks to raise funds for the Global Partnership for Education as it seeks a $5 billion replenishment. It comes as campaigners warn that students around the world are facing the biggest education emergency in decades, as schools have closed and economies contracted, putting pressure on children to seek work.

References:

1. USAID Education: The Most Powerful Weapon for Changing the World by Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education 2013. Source link.
2. GPE Transforming Education Financing 2025. Source link.
3. World Education News + Reviews. Source link.
4. BBC News - Kenyan science teacher wins global prize. Source link.
5. Global Education Summit. Source link.