More than 2,000 primary schools across Kenya are facing potential closure as student enrollment numbers have drastically declined. The situation is particularly acute in rural areas, where some schools are left with only a handful of students or none at all.
Kaliluni Primary School in southern Kenya, once bustling with over 200 children, now has only five pupils. On a recent visit, even these students and the sole remaining teacher were absent. Dilapidated classrooms with strewn books and broken doors have become common sights.
Maureen Mwisiwa, a 12-year-old student, described arriving at school for a week straight to find herself alone. Her mother, Josephine Muasya, is planning to transfer her daughter to a school 8 kilometers (5 miles) away, a journey that takes over an hour on rough roads due to the lack of public transport in the Kitui county region. "I was hoping the government would restore operations here - bring more teachers and facilities to accommodate the new curriculum - but there is no hope," Muasya stated.
Parents like Muasya attribute the decline, in part, to Kenya's new education system, Competency-Based Education (CBE), introduced in 2017. This curriculum aims for a more practical and creative approach to teaching, moving away from a strong emphasis on exams. However, it appears to be having a detrimental effect on smaller, rural junior schools.
Education officials have noted the unsustainability of operating schools with very low student numbers. "It makes no sense to have a school with just 10 students when you need a headmaster, a classroom, a watchman and a teacher," commented Julius Ogamba, identified as an Education Minister.
Parents, however, argue that the curriculum should strengthen schools, particularly in low-income communities, rather than weaken them. The challenge for many rural families is the increased distance and difficulty in accessing alternative schools, impacting their children's education.
