Secondary School Survey Report 2022
Secondary School Survey Report 2022
System Inequitable by
Design? Facts and figures for evidence-based
building back better!
U s a w a 1 st S e c o n d a r y S c h o o l S u r v e y R e p o r t | 2 0 2 2
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1
Forward
3
Acknowledgements
5
Introduction
7
Key Facts on The Status of
Secondary Education in Kenya!
8
Key Findings
24
Conclusions
T
hey say that education is an equal opportunity we count down the last decade of two important
to people to show how unequal they are. This national and global education aspirations. The
maxim aligns well with the global educational world is counting down the last decade of the
aspiration as encapsulated in SDG 4, to which Kenya global agenda 2030 whose educational aspiration
is signatory: “Ensure inclusive and equitable as articulated in the SDG 4. Simultaneously, Kenya
quality education and promote lifelong learning is also counting down the last decade of the
opportunities for all1”. It, however, presumes that grant national Vision 2030, in which education is
the school system is equitable and that what one considered one of the main enablers of national
emerges with from it is a true reflection of their development. The overall educational goal of Vision
ability and effort. The question that this report seeks 2030 is: “offer Kenyans a globally competitive,
to answer is: Is that true of the Kenyan secondary quality and relevant education and training”.
school system?
This report comes at the time Kenyans are
This secondary school survey report, therefore, counting down the 12th year since the country
could not have come at a more opportune moment promulgated the current constitution, which makes
in the country’s education sector. It comes as basic education (including secondary education)
a constitutional right. This year is also expected to
1 Emphasis added culminate to the second political transition under
T
he completion of this report brings to fruition you for keeping our feet on the ground while
the dedicated efforts of a wide range of staff, carrying out this important duty.
volunteers, consultants and partners. We wish
The Usawa Agenda Staff: Dr. Emmanuel
to acknowledge everybodyone who offered his or
Manyasa, Boaz Ochi, Cycus Baraza, Brenda
her time, expertise and resources to support the
Onyango, David Lutta, Esther Nyokabi, Faith
successful implementation of the 2021 secondary
Atieno and David Baraza thank you for
school survey in Kenya. Our sincere apologies in
commitment beyond the call of duty without
advance to those we may not be able to mention
by name. The following, however, stand out in their which this work report would not be out at this
unique contributions to the 2021 survey: time.
The Usawa Agenda Consultants: Walter
The Usawa Agenda founders: Dr. Martin
Kwena and Kevin Mwanza;
Ogola and Dr. Everline Wanzala, thank you for
believing that this work is doable and trusting The 47 Uwezo County Partners who sacrificed
us to do it. their time to work with data collectors to
ensure that we reached all the selected
Usawa Agenda funders: Wellspring
schools;
Philanthropic Fund, Echidna Giving and
Imaginable Futures, thank you for trusting The trainers who committed their time and
us enough to put resources into the expertise to enhance the data collectors’
implementation of our ideas. capacities to conduct the survey in the most
credible way possible; and
The Usawa Agenda board members: Mr.
Henry Kilonzo (Chairman), Prof. Gituro The 339 secondary school principals who
Wainaina, Mr. Naman Owuor, Ms. Florence welcomed us into their schools to conduct the
Syevuo, Dr. Wilson Wasike, Mrs. Esther surveys we can’t thank you enough for your
Wairimu and Ms. Joy Claudia Anami, thank sacrifices to support this work.
T
his is Usawa’s first secondary school survey our school system. Building on the many years of
report for Kenya. It is informed by the fact that work at the primary school level, this report asks
secondary education is critical in the career the question: “Is our secondary school system
paths that young Kenyans can take. Indeed, not inequitable by design?”
performing well in secondary school has greater
ramifications for young Kenyans than any other This report provides insights into the drivers of
learning and academic performance in public
level of their education. Today there are many
secondary schools in Kenya, with a clear focus on
young Kenyans who have studied hard to acquire
the underlying structure that perpetuates systemic
university degrees, but cannot be deployed at the
inequities. The report highlights the categorization
same grade as their fellow university graduates
of schools into national, extra-county, county and
because of their form four grade – that is how
sub-county schools and the inequitable distribution
consequential achievement at the secondary school
of public resources among the different cadres of
level is! schools. Given that this categorization is neither
This report notes the fact that the grade a learner provided for in the Basic Education Act of 2013 nor
obtains in his/her Kenya Certificate of Secondary the Sessional paper number 1 of 2019, this report
Education (KCSE) examinations is not entirely finds it difficult to rationalize the continued use of
this order to skew the allocation of public resources
dependent on their ability and/or effort. Many
(including teachers) in the secondary school sub-
factors impact this grade, most of them outside of
sector.
the learner’s control. Yet the learner almost singly
bears the full responsibility for the grade they Kenya has pursued legal, policy and institutional
obtain. Most of these factors are school-level, while reforms in education since the promulgation of
some are beyond the school. Based on anecdotal the current Constitution in 2010 that have brought
evidence, and sometimes in glaring exhibition of consequential structural changes including but not
herd behavior, parents and learners scramble for limited to:
limited spaces in the perceived best performing
schools, while many secondary schools remain with 1) Education being recognised as a
sub-optimal number of learners. This report heralds constitutional right through the provisions of
the effort to investigate and expose the multiple Article 53(1),
factors that drive the academic performance of our 2) The provision of education becoming a
public secondary schools (which educate most of shared function between the National and
the learners). It attempts to tackle the salient issue County governments (IV Schedule of the
that we have surfaced over the years – inequity in Constitution),
1 2
FACT ONE: FACT TWO:
The category of secondary Only 3 in 10 surveyed
school the learner attends boarding schools
contributes more to his/her reported having
KCSE grade than his/her adequate space in their
entry (KCPE) marks. dormitories.
3
FACT THREE:
Girl schools are generally
less equipped with biology,
physics and chemistry
laboratories compared to
boy schools.
4 5
FACT FOUR: FACT FIVE:
Attending a school with
Only 3 in 10 secondary
a high proportion of
school teachers are
TSC-employed teachers
trained on using ICT in
has a significant positive
teaching and learning.
contribution to a learner’s
KCSE grade.
Boarding
School Category Day
Table 2: Average number of learners by school County 11.5 11.4 10.4 11.3 [7, 15]
category Extra-county 12.5 12.5 - 12.5 [8, 20]
National 13.9 14.3 14.0 14.1 [8, 21]
Category Average
Average 11.5 11.3 10.9 11.1 [7, 21]
Sub-county 391
The number of subjects examined ranges from 7
County 510 to 21.
Extra-county 800 The number of subjects differs among the
different categories of schools.
National 1,226 They range from 8 to 21 among national schools,
8 to 20 among extra-county schools and 7 to 15
Total 433
among both county and sub-county schools.
The average national school is almost four On average, sub-county schools have 10
times the size of an average sub-county examined subjects, county schools have 11, extra-
school, more than double the size of an county schools have 13 and national schools 14.
average county school and 1.5 times the Candidates are required to sit examinations in
size of an average extra-county school by 7 subjects: the higher, beyond 7 the number of
population. examined subjects, the higher the options for
learners to select what interests them most and
the more the opportunities for career paths the
COVID-19 Impact and Response learners have.
Table 4: COVID-19 Impact on enrolment by class and school category (2020 to 2021)
Class Average
School Category
Form 1 Form 2 Form 3 Form 4 Boys Girls Total
Sub-county -2.9% -2.1% -1.3% -4.7% -2.4% -3.0% -2.6%
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a 2.1% Among county schools, the highest
decline in enrolment in the secondary schools dropout rate (6.7%) was in form four and
across board. the least (1.8%) in form one.
The dropout rate varied among the different Among sub-county schools, the highest
classes and school categories: dropout rate (4.7%) was in form four and
the least (1.3%) in form three.
Among national schools, the highest
dropout rate (4.1%) was in form one and the County schools reported the highest
least (an increase in enrolment of 0.4%) in dropout rate (3.1) overall and for girls (4%),
form four. while national schools reported the lowest
dropout rate (1.4%) overall and for girls
Among extra-county schools, the highest (0.7%).
dropout rate (5.4%) was in form four and
the least (0.3%) in form two.
19.1%
50.0 10.0%
No longer interested 19.4%
in education 12.5%
20.5%
40.0
Number
34.3%
Factor for declined enrolement 10.0%
30.0 Marriage 9.7%
20.0%
38.5%
20.0 61.1%
Teenage 23.3%
38.7%
10.0 Pregnancy 40.0%
66.7%
46.0%
0.0 80.0%
Sub-county County Extra-county National Total Transferred to 61.3%
Boys 24.6 27.2 38.1 35.3 28.9 other schools 52.5%
Girls 33.8 21.5 38.0 28.3 29.2 43.6%
Mixed 38.3 59.3 0.0 30.4 39.2
Average 36.3 27.6 38.0 31.7 34.4 0.0%
3.3%
School Category Death of 0.0%
parent(s) 0.0%
0.0%
Overall, 34 learners shared one handwashing 37.8%
point. 43.3%
Lack of 51.6%
school fees 57.5%
In mixed schools, 39 learners shared one 33.3%
handwashing point while in boy and girl 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0%
schools 29 learners shared one handwashing average National Extra- county County Sub- county
point.
Overall, lack of fees was mentioned as the
Fig. 3: Learners per functional hand-washing cause for the decline in enrolment by 37.8% of
point by school category and residency type the schools, transfer to other schools by 46%
45.0
of the schools, teenage pregnancy by 61.1%
Boarding Day Total of the schools, marriage by 34.3%, no longer
40.0 interested in education by 19.1% and other
35.0
unspecified reasons by 12.9%.
The causes differed by the category of
30.0
school:
25.0
Numbers
y
ty
e
ty
l
nt
na
ag
un
un
ou
tio
er
co
Co
-c
av
Na
38.8%
b-
30%
tra
61.2%
Su
Ex
20% School category female male
100% 40.1
40 34.2
80%
58.1 57 53.4 30
60% 67.7 65.8 19.2
20
40% 10
20% 41.9 43 46.6 0
32.3 34.2
Male Female
0%
Gender
Sub-county County Extra-county National average
Women are under-represented in
School category female male
secondary school leadership.
Extra-
county 1.2 11.6 22.1 22.1 43.0
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
< 1 yr 1 - 4 yrs 5 - 8 yrs 9 - 12 yrs > 12 yrs
On average, 1 in 100 secondary school Fig. 11: Number of teachers per examined subject
principals had less than 1-year experience, by school category
21 in 100 had 1-4 years’ experience, 32 in 100 boys girls mixed average
had 5-8 years’ experience, 23 in 100 had 9-12
4.6
years’ experience, while 24 in 100 had more
than 12 years’ experience in the position.
4.1
Number of Teachers/Examined Subject
3.7
principals increase progressively from sub-
county to national schools.
3.2
3.2
3.2
3.1
2.9
more than 12 years’ experience and none with
less than 1-year experience.
2.3
2.3
2.2
2.1
2.0
2.0
Fig. 10: Distribution of teachers by employment
1.9
1.9
1.8
7.20% 5.50% 3.70% 2.70% 4.20% Extra-county schools have the lowest
percentage of their teachers (0.6%) trained
17.20%
24.50% 25.20% 22.20% in SNE and also a lower percentage of men
25.30% (0.4%) than women (0.8%) trained.
16.0%
80.10% 73.60%
67.50% 70.00% 71.10% Male Female Average
14.0%
12.0% 4.6%
4.6%
4.2% 4.4%
10.0% 3.9% 3.9%
Sub County Extra National Average 3.6%
3.5%
Percentage
County County 8.0% 3.1%
School Category 6.0% 4.6%
6.0% 4.5% 2.4% 5.2%
4.9% 4.6%
4.2% 3.5%
National schools are the most privileged in 3.9%
distribution of teachers: they have the highest 4.0%
2.8%
percentage of TSC members of staff (80.1%) 4.6%
2.0% 4.0%
and least percentages of BOM (17.2%) and 3.2% 3.8% 2.7% 3.6% 3.3% 3.5% 3.3%
2.2%
intern (2.7%) members of staff. 0.0%
Girls
Boarding
Day
Total
Extra- County
Mixed
National
Boys
Sub- County
County
male
also recorded the highest female teachers’
Extra- absenteeism rate at 6% compared to the
county
female teachers’ average rate of 4.6%.
County Absenteeism rates vary by gender and school
category:
Sub-county Female teachers were more absent than
male teachers in all categories, types
0.0% 0.5% 1.0% 1.5% 2.0% 2.5%
(based on gender and residency) except for
Sub-county County Extra-county National Total
average 1.8% 1.5% 0.6% 0.8% 1.0%
day schools were the absenteeism rate for
female 1.5% 1.4% 0.8% 1.0% 1.1% both male and female teachers was 3.5%.
male 2.0% 1.5% 0.4% 0.6% 0.9%
82.6
77.9
75.0
74.4
trained counsellors.
60.7
60.2
Percentage
56.4
56.1
55.7
Sub-county County Extra National Total School Category boys girls mixed average
County
School Category Sub-county 189.7 334.5 321.9 311.6
On average, 60.2% of the schools provided County 280.9 329.8 516.9 332.0
psycho-social support to learners in the
aftermath of the covid-19 closure of schools. Extra-county 284.0 361.6 - 315.7
77.9% of boy schools, 60.7% of girl schools National 381.7 257.9 380.0 313.9
and 56.1% of mixed schools provided psycho-
social support to their learners. Total 258.1 329.5 329.3 315.2
Except for sub-county schools where only There are more girls per trained counsellor
50% of girl schools provided psycho-social across all school categories except for
support to their learners compared to 83.3% national schools.
of boy schools, in all other categories more
girl schools provided psycho-social support to On average, there are 315 learners per trained
their learners than boy schools. counsellor in the public secondary schools.
Percentage
tank
None 1.1 0 0 0 0.9 8.0
3.7 3.6
Fig. 19: Schools reporting adequate spaces in the
dormitories by category and gender type
100%
90% 32.4
4.0 80%
33.3
42.9 30.1
33.3
l
ty
l
nt
na
un
ou
io
To
co
Co
t
-c
Na
b-
Ex
county schools, which built 4 new toilets each School category boys girls mixed average
on average.
Only 33.3% of the surveyed schools reported
Sub-county schools built just under 4 toilets having adequate space in their dormitories.
on average.
The greatest deficit is in mixed schools where
only 23.7% of the schools reported having
adequate space in their dormitories.
ta
na
nt
To
tio
ou
Co
Co
Na
-C
tra
Su
Ex
20.0 17.1
County schools have the highest percentage
15.0
11.3 of teachers trained on DLP (29.1%), while extra-
10.0 county schools have the lowest percentage of
5.0 teachers trained on DLP (19.3%).
5.0
0.0 The percentage of male teachers trained on
Sub-county County Extra-county National Total DLP is almost constant across different school
School Category categories.
of schools 60.0
utilizing
the radio
5.3% 5.8% 12.8% 8.2% 5.7% 40.0
lessons on
the national
broadcaster 20.0
- KBC
0.0
Percentage Sub- Extra-
County County County National Average
of schools
that possess All 0.0 2.2 3.4 1.6 0.6
80.9% 90.7% 98.8% 100% 83.1%
functional Majority 14.3 17.4 23.7 37.1 16.0
official email 25-50% 28.6 45.7 32.2 32.3 32.1
address Less than 25% 57.1 34.8 40.7 29.0 51.3
School category
60.0% 66.3
Extra- 20.0
50.0% county 69.1
40.0%
47.7
30.0% County 27.3
50.7
20.0%
10.0% 13.8
Sub-county 6.2
0.0% 31.0
Sub-County County Extra-County National Average
TV 41.5% 12.8% 2.3% 1.4% 35.5% 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0
Radio 72.3% 44.2% 31.4% 19.2% 66.2% Percentage
LCD 48.9% 19.8% 3.5% 4.1% 42.6%
Mobile phone 55.3% 37.2% 23.3% 21.9% 51.2% 21.4% of surveyed schools have clinics.
Video Decks 86.2% 77.9% 79.1% 65.8% 84.5%
VCD 70.2% 52.3% 39.5% 41.1% 66.2% Higher percentage of boarding schools
School category (41.4%) than day schools (6.9%) have clinics.
The digital device owned by the greatest 86.3% of national schools compared to 13.8%
number of schools is the video deck at 84.5%. of sub-county schools have clinics.
The digital device owned by the least number Across the different categories of schools, the
of schools is the TV at 35.5%. percentage of boarding schools which have
clinics is more than double that of the day
schools with clinics.
School Health Matters Fig. 31: Schools that provide free sanitary towels
by category and residency type
Fig. 29: Percentage of schools with a trained
nurse by category National 52.8 0.0 54.1
county
30.2 Sub-county
County 58.1 50.0 57.1
County
Extra-county
82.2 National Sub-county 41.7 54.7 51.1
51.2
Average
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Boarding Day Average
120.0
Boarding Day Average
100.0 98.1 48.1%
92.4
72.7%
81.5
80.0
50.0 60.0 57.5%
Percentage
100.0
reported at least a case of teenage
pregnancy during extended school closures. 52.9 56.8 52.2
80.0 33.3
0.0
6 in 10 surveyed extra-county day schools
60.0 0.0
reported at least a case of teenage
pregnancy during extended school closures 40.0 73.2
compared to 4 in 10 extra-county boarding 55.6 62.2 58.3 58.5
schools. 20.0
4 in 10 surveyed national schools reported 0.0
at least a case of teenage pregnancy during Sub- County Extra- National Total
extended school closures. county county
School category
98% of day sub-county schools recorded
cases of teenage pregnancy compared to 54% of the surveyed girl and mixed schools
85% of boarding sub-county schools and 41% have instituted measures to support returning
of national schools – the category and type of teenage mothers.
school a girl attends has a great impact on her
likelihood to become a teenage mother. 58.5% of girl schools have instituted measures
to support returning teenage mothers
compared to 52.2% of mixed schools.
73.2% of extra-county schools have instituted
measures to support returning teenage
mothers compared to 53.4% of the sub-county
schools.
Percentage
15.0 60.0
Percentage
40.0
10.0
20.0
5.0
0.0
Sub- County Extra- National Total
county county
0.0
Sub- Extra- boys 66.7 32.4 55.6 50.0 49.1
county County county National Total girls 38.9 56.8 51.2 58.3 44.9
boys 0.0 5.4 6.7 5.6 3.5 mixed 35.7 33.3 0.0 100.0 35.7
girls 11.1 16.2 22.0 11.1 13.2 average 38.3 43.0 53.5 54.8 39.7
mixed 7.1 8.3 0.0 0.0 7.2 School category
average 7.5 10.5 14.0 8.2 8.1
School category Overall, 39.7% of surveyed schools reported
instituting measures to protect victims/
8.1% of the schools reported at least a case of survivors of SGBV.
SGBV during extended school closures. 49.1% of boy schools reported instituting
Higher percentage of girl schools reported at measures to protect victims/survivors of
least a case of SGBV during extended school SGBV.
closures (13.2%) compared to boy schools 35.7% of mixed schools reported instituting
(3.5%) and mixed schools (7.2%). measures to protect victims/survivors of
Sub-county schools recorded the lowest SGBV.
percentage of those reporting incidents of 54.8% of national schools compared to 38.3%
SGBV at 7.5%. of sub-county schools reported instituting
Extra-county schools recorded the highest measures to protect victims/survivors of
percentage of those reporting incidents of SGBV.
SGBV at 14%.
22% of extra-county girl schools reported at
least a case of SGBV during extended school
closures.
None of the sub-county boy schools reported
a case of SGBV during extended school
closures.
teacher
250.0
Number of years served in the current school (Ref: <1 year)
Percentage
of absent -0.16 0.000 -0.20 -0.13
teachers
Proportion of
7.48 0.000 5.06 9.91
TSC teachers
Several conclusions can be drawn from the analysis teenage pregnancy than other categories
in this report: of schools while attending a national school
presents the least such risk;
The categorization of schools has direct
impact on resource allocation among the Parents of children attending sub-county
various cadres of public secondary schools in schools shoulder a much heavier burden
Kenya; of hiring teachers to fill the shortfall left by
inadequate deployment by the Teachers
The highest ranked schools - national schools Service Commission while those of children
enjoy great privilege compared to the lowest attending national schools shoulder the
ranked ones – sub-county schools both in lightest such burden;
staffing and funding;
Women are under-represented in
The category of school one attends has management of schools both as principals
direct implication on their performance in the and boards management chairs; and
KCSE examinations, with sub-county schools
The above factors put together and
offering the least opportunity to excel while
combined with the paramount importance
the national schools offer the best opportunity
of the KCSE grade in career options and
to excel;
social standing, make the secondary school
For girls, attending a sub-county day school system as currently set up, the citadel of
exposes them to a much higher risk of inequity in the country!