What You Need to Know
• Kaliluni Primary School in southern Kenya has seen enrollment drop from over 200 students to just five.
• Twelve-year-old Maureen Mwisiwa has attended school alone for a week, missing lessons while others continue learning.
• The introduction of Competency-Based Education in 2017 has contributed to the decline of rural schools like Kaliluni Primary.
Kaliluni Primary School, located in southern Kenya, has experienced a dramatic decline in student enrollment, plummeting from over 200 children three years ago to only five pupils currently. On a recent visit, the school was deserted, with only livestock present in the compound, and twelve-year-old Maureen Mwisiwa reported attending school alone for a week. Her mother, Josephine Muasya, plans to transfer Maureen to a different school that is 8 kilometers away, as many of her friends have already left Kaliluni. The shift to Competency-Based Education, introduced in 2017, has had a detrimental impact on rural schools, leading to the potential closure of over 2,000 institutions across Kenya due to falling enrollment numbers.
Why It Matters
The situation at Kaliluni Primary School reflects broader challenges within Kenya’s education system, particularly in rural areas. The Competency-Based Education framework, aimed at fostering creativity and practical skills, has not been effectively implemented in these regions, resulting in significant enrollment declines. As families seek better educational opportunities for their children, the viability of many rural schools is increasingly jeopardized, raising concerns about access to education in underserved communities. The ongoing decline in student numbers highlights the urgent need for government intervention to support rural education.
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