KENYA-FREE EDUCATION UNDER THREAT

04/EEN/012

By LUCIANNE LIMO

A new report shows that millions of children in Kenya risk dropping out of school due to underfunding by the Government.

The report indicates children have become victims of the financial crisis with the Government cutting back on the education budget.

It notes that in the last 12 months, the Government delayed provision for free education to 9.7 million children due to budgetary constraints.

In May, schools across the country faced a crisis due to a delay to release the funds.

The report from the Global Campaign for Education backed by organisations, including Education International, Oxfam, Plan, Save the Children, and VSO warned that poor countries are teetering on the brink of a crisis with the growth in access to education now stalling.

The report, Back to School: The Worst Place in the World to be a School Child in 2010 lists Somalia as the worst place to be a school child, with Ethiopia and Eritrea also performing poorly.

Tanzania is commended for progress, while Rwanda has also made positive steps.

financial crisis

The report further says Kenya’s progress has unfortunately been hampered by the global financial crisis.

The report on the state of education around the world faults rich countries for breaking their aid promises and using education funds for domestic universities.

“Sadly some rich countries do not direct their aid budgets at the poorest countries or where inequalities are