Gender report reveals disparities in educational investment

A new report by Usawa Agenda has highlighted disparities in educational resources favouring boys’ schools in Kenya, which negatively impacts girls' educational outcomes.

The assessment shows that 61.5 per cent of boys’ schools, 42 per cent of girls’ schools and 20.6 per cent of mixed schools have chemistry laboratories.

 Additionally, 51.3 per cent of boys’ schools, 35.7 per cent of girls’ schools and 12.3 per cent of mixed schools possess biology laboratories.

The report, which includes data from a survey of 1,342 secondary schools and an assessment of 39,298 children aged 6 to 15, underscores the resource inequalities.

 For example, it reveals that 4.7 per cent of students in boys' secondary schools received over Sh30,000 in scholarships, compared to 3.7 per cent in girls' schools.

Senator Pesi Peris Tobiko, Vice Chairperson of the Senate Education Committee, addressed these concerns at the report’s launch.

“We must allow and create an opportunity where both boys and girls pursue subjects traditionally associated with one gender, like STEM subjects,” she said.  

Tobiko added that the Senate Committee appreciates Usawa Agenda’s efforts in providing data to bridge the gap between policy and practice.

Dr Purity Ngina, CEO of the National Gender & Equality Commission, highlighted the report’s implications, saying, “The statistics should make Kenyans angry. It seems the system is designed to disadvantage girls, particularly in providing essential facilities for STEM education.”

She emphasised the need for systemic changes to address these inequalities.

Dr Emmanuel Manyasa, Usawa Agenda Executive Director, pointed out that the report reveals a stark gap in the education system.

“Boys outperform girls at the secondary level despite girls excelling in primary school,” noted Manyasa.

 He added, “Evidence points to a differential investment in girls’ and boys’ schools in favour of boys’ schools at higher levels, which could explain the achievement gaps.”

The assessment also identified that boys' schools were better equipped with ICT resources.

Additionally, teenage pregnancy continues to hinder girls’ education, with 19,230 reported cases in the year before the study.

The Rift Valley region had the highest rate, contributing 35.8 per cent of the total, while the North Eastern region had the lowest at 0.07 per cent. Less than half of the pregnant girls (42.5 per cent) returned to school after delivery.