The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the education of over 17 million learners in Kenya, with significant and unequal consequences for their well-being, learning outcomes, and future opportunities. In this blog post, we will examine the impact of school closures on different groups of students, the challenges and successes of the education reforms implemented before and during the crisis, and the recommendations for a more resilient and inclusive education system.

The impact of school closures on vulnerable learners

School closures have not only interrupted learning for millions of students, but also increased their exposure to various risks, such as violence, child labor, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and mental health issues. These risks are especially high for marginalized learners, such as girls, children with disabilities, children from poor families, and children in rural areas.

According to a report by UNICEF, 53 percent of students showed declines in their levels of math knowledge during school closures, with an average loss of 13 months. The learning loss was greater for lower grades, girls, and rural students. Similarly, a report by Brookings found that school closures have further widened the existing gaps in access and quality of education between urban and rural areas, between rich and poor households, and between boys and girls.

Some groups of students have also faced difficulties in returning to school after reopening. These include adolescent boys who joined the workforce during school closures and adolescent girls who became pregnant. Other groups of out-of-school children include children with disabilities and those from poorer families. There have also been drops in pre-primary enrollment, which is crucial for lifelong learning and development.

The challenges and successes of education reforms

Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, Kenya’s education sector has shown remarkable resilience and innovation in responding to the crisis. Before the pandemic, the government embarked on ambitious reforms that sought to improve the quality of education through several approaches: a competency-based curriculum (CBC), reforming professional teacher development, textbook policy, and management practices at the local level.

These reforms have made Kenya a top education performer in Eastern and Southern Africa, according to a World Bank report. The report highlights Kenya’s impressive achievements in expanding access and coverage at all levels of education, especially pre-primary and post-primary education. It also notes that Kenya has improved its learning outcomes before the pandemic, as measured by national assessments and regional comparisons.

One of the key innovations during the pandemic was the use of digital learning platforms to reach students who could not attend school physically. The government partnered with various stakeholders to provide online classes, radio lessons, TV programs, and printed materials to support remote learning. However, these efforts faced challenges such as limited internet connectivity, lack of devices, low parental involvement, and unequal access for marginalized learners.

The recommendations for a more resilient and inclusive education system

As Kenya recovers from the COVID-19 crisis, it has an opportunity to reimagine its education system to make it more resilient to future shocks and more inclusive for all learners. Some of the recommendations from the World Bank report include:

• Implementing a remedial program to help affected students catch up from learning loss and prevent dropout.
• Strengthening the implementation of the CBC to ensure that it is aligned with the needs of the labor market and society.
• Enhancing teacher training and support to improve their pedagogical skills and motivation.
• Improving textbook provision and distribution to ensure that every student has access to quality learning materials.
• Promoting school-based management and accountability to empower local actors and foster community participation.
• Expanding social protection programs to reduce poverty and vulnerability among households with school-age children.
• Investing in digital infrastructure and innovation to increase access and quality of online learning.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges for Kenya’s education sector but also revealed its strengths and potential. By building on the reforms initiated before and during the crisis, Kenya can secure its education gains and ensure that every child has an opportunity to learn and thrive.