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Concern as private schools dominate Nairobi's education sector

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu addresses a conference on quality, inclusive education at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) in Nairobi on March 28, 2024. (Photo: Justine Ondieki).

By Lucy Mumbi | 28 Mar 2024

Among public schools in the city, there are 216 ECDE, 211 primary schools, 193 junior schools, and 107 secondary schools. On the other hand, private schools in those categories are 952, 780, 672, and 207 respectively.

The Ministry of Education has acknowledged a shortage of public schools in Nairobi due to the dominance of private institutions.

Speaking on Thursday during the Nairobi Region Education Dialogue, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu emphasised that while private schools play a role in complementing government efforts, their dominance poses threats to various aspects of education.

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He noted that only 31 per cent of schools in Nairobi are public, while the remaining 69 per cent are private.

“While this is commendable in complementing government efforts, it threatens accessibility, inclusivity, affordability, and quality of education. This is more so when the government continues to provide capitation to all students in public schools and implement other countrywide programmes that promote inclusivity in education,” he said.

Among the public schools in the city, there are 216 ECDE, 211 primary schools, 193 junior schools, and 107 secondary schools. On the other hand, private schools in those categories are 952, 780, 672, and 207, respectively.

Machogu said there is an urgent need to ensure that public schools are expanded to accommodate grade 9 students in Nairobi and the rest of the country next year, particularly with the upcoming rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Currently, there are 4,651 classrooms in primary schools in Nairobi County, resulting in a deficit of 983 classrooms.

“Indeed, the infrastructure situation in Nairobi is concerning, particularly because it is also the capital city,” he said.

To tackle the issue, Machogu said the government has allocated Sh1 billion to 17 constituencies in Nairobi County to construct 1,000 classrooms.

“Each constituency has been allocated Sh58,823,529 in this financial year. These funds will be available gradually until the target of 3500 classrooms in Nairobi is achieved,” he said.

Additionally, he added that the national government will construct 3,500 additional classrooms in the county in the next three years.

“My ministry is confident that the foregoing measures are adequate to ensure that all grade 9 students in public schools will be catered for in 2025, not just in Nairobi but for the rest of the country,” he said.

The CS further stated that the National Government Constituency Development Fund will receive a conditional grant of Sh3.39 billion from the government to build 6,000 Integrated Resource Centers across all constituencies.

He reiterated that the government is keen on ensuring that education is accessible and participatory, equitable and inclusive, quality and relevant, and addresses governance and accountability as espoused in the Presidential Working Party report.