Challenges and Reforms Facing Kenyan Education System in the 21st Century: Integrating the Principles of Vision 2030 and Constitution 2010

Abstract

Kenya’s education sector has achieved many milestones since independence. However due to challenges of high population and unsustainable utilization of resources, Kenya is faced with many challenges that require urgent reforms to be able to sustain the ever increasing demand for education; free and compulsory education; and education for industrialization in line with the vision 2030 and Constitution 2010. The objectives of this paper are to identify the challenges facing education system in Kenya; establish some reform proposals and recommend strategies to mitigate the challenges. The purpose of this study is to understand the challenges facing education system arising from new needs and expectations. The findings show government has proposed development of a new education policy and legal framework to allow for accessible, efficient, effective and quality education for all children by the year 2015. Some of the reforms arising from the constitution include; free and compulsory basic education for all children; integrating pre-primary education in all existing primary schools; setting up of talent and career options for secondary school students and streamlining adult and continuing education to reduce levels of illiteracy. The government has focused on special education needs of disabled and children and those from marginalized communities, to ensure equal access to quality education. Girl child education is at the centre stage in enabling a fifty-fifty percent enrollment, retention, completion and transition of girls from primary to secondary schools. This paper discusses current challenges, presents government proposals for reform and recommends way forward towards achieving an enabling education sector that supports industrialization by the year 2030, thus making Kenya a middle income nation.