The Challenge
Kickstart Kilifi believes that the problem is grave, but solutions exist.
Even after 56 years of independence, Kenya is beset by serious problems with its education system. Numerous research studies and surveys have substantiated these problems and prove that immediate attention and action is required.
The Problem
Modern education in Kenya is often criticized for encouraging rote learning, rather than comprehension, critical thinking, and problem solving. Students spend most of their time memorizing a syllabus with no thought given to learning or playing. Textbook knowledge, rigid ideas, and test scores take precedence over open debates and logical reasoning. Little room is left for creativity to thrive. Moreover, there are growing concerns about student learning outcomes, teacher training, curriculum quality, and ability to meet educational cost, infrastructure in schools, assessment of learning achievements, and the efficacy of school management. Faced with such problems, many children drop out of school and those who stay on often learn little. Most resources and research are directed towards improving quantifiable factors such as enrollment, dropout rates, teacher-to-student ratios, etc. while not enough has been done to examine the quality of education given to Kenya’s children.
In Kenya only 3 out of 10 Grade Three pupils can do Grade Two work and 8 out of 100 pupils in Grade Eight cannot do grade Two work. In Kilifi County only 25.9% of Grade Three pupils can do Grade Two work (Uwezo report 2016). 52% of Kilifi residents have a primary school level education with 13% having secondary education. This is a clear indication of low transition rates from primary to secondary school and such is attributed to poverty, retrogressive cultural practices, poor parenting and other factors.
Since the introduction of free primary education in 2003, the enrollment in Grade One swelled up. However, this high enrollment does not live to see the O-level (grade 12) graduation. A review report of education data by Nation Newsplex and the Institute of Economic Affairs published by the Daily Nation newspaper of March 2nd 2016 denotes that 6 out of 10 students who join Grade One (primary school) drop out before reaching Grade Twelve (O-level) in Kenya. This translates to a 60% loss of the country’s potential skilled labor force every year.
Notwithstanding, Kenya relies heavily on this education sector to provide the much-needed skilled labor force. Which could transform the country from a third world economy to a second world country by 2030.
Kickstart Kilifi’s vision
Kickstart Kilifi envisions higher learning levels for all students through an outcome-oriented system that sets measurable learning goals. Our strategy is to demonstrate that setting these goals and designing teaching and delivery methods to achieve these goals can directly enhance the learning outcomes of children.
Kickstart Kilifi believes maximum impact can be achieved through government initiatives supported by Kickstart Kilifi and similar organizations. Our philosophy is based on imparting our beneficiaries with knowledge and skills that that will open more opportunities in life.