Challenges Facing the Implementation of the Low-Cost Boarding Primary Schools in Kajiado County and Suggestions to Assist in Improvement of the Implementation of the Programme

Abstract

The Kenya National education sector strategic plan 2018-22, highlighted the challenges facing the ASAL region in relation to provision of education to include: the mobile nature of the community which  make the provision of formal learning  in fixed schools difficult; Persistent security issues in some ASAL regions that frequently interrupt learning; inadequate boarding facilities in the  Low-cost Boarding Schools; Geographic barriers such as the  rough terrain and  long distances to the existing schools; Weak management and capacity of school boards of management; weak co-ordination frame work between various stakeholders that support education provision in ASAL regions; Poor school performance in national examinations; inhibitive cultural practices that impact negatively on access to quality education and high levels of poverty that makes it difficult to provide for hidden educational costs. The Government of Kenya established low-cost boarding primary schools (LCBPs) in the ASAL regions and pledged to provide boarding facilities, food items and all other supplies while the parents provide students personal effects to operationalize the LCBPs initiative. Eleven (11) of the (392) Kenya’s LCBPs were in Kajiado County with an enrollment of 4,176 in 2016 and were under enrolled by the national standards. This process evaluation of the LCBPs used Sequential Mixed method, cross sectional and a case study designs. The sample of the study was drawn from all pupils, teachers, and head teachers in low-cost boarding primary schools in Kajiado County. Education officials and representatives of development partners supporting provision of education in Kajiado County provided useful information. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview schedules as well as observation of facilities. The findings of the study revealed that some of the challenges that were facing the implementation of LCBPs in Kajiado County were; inadequate funding by the national government, inadequate boarding facilities (both infrastructure and other facilities), inadequate teaching and support staff, delayed disbursements of funds by government, the levies charged by School prohibit local pupils from accessing LCBPs, nomadic–pastoral parents were unable to pay the charges by LCBPs, there was low awareness on value for education by nomadic parents, the dormitories in the LCBPs were congested forcing learners to share facilities like beds and mattresses that made them uncomfortable, food was inadequate and not balanced, instructional materials were inadequate and the LCBPs environment is unsecure for girls. The study concluded that most schools had inadequate water and poor sanitary facilities like toilets and that the school compounds had no fence around them exposing the learners to insecurity, there was poor transport networks serving the schools and majority of the schools had introduced unregulated levies which had affected enrollments. The study thus recommended that the Ministry of education should establish a strategy with a multi- sectorial outlook to coordinate and link up all service provision in the ASAL regions by all Ministries and departments for the benefit of education provision.

Keywords: Challenges, Implementation, Suggestions, Improvement, Assistance, LCBPS, Programme.