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Affordable Private Schools in Kenya

Kenya has an estimated 5,000 APS that serve more than half a million students annually. Many schools are concentrated in urban slums and cater to students from low-income families or children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

National Education System

Kenya’s national school system follows an 8-4-4 format. Beginning at age five or six, children attend eight years of primary school (for free), four years of secondary school, and a minimum of four years at a university.

Before Kenya’s colonial independence in 1963, missionaries and community schools had established privately owned schools in the country. Since its independence, Kenya has developed a working education policy and its Ministry of Education has played an active role in creating education opportunities for all children. For example, in 2003, the government introduced free primary education, which caused primary school enrollment to surge by about 70 percent. However, the initiative did not address many concerns from low-income parents about costs, including high recurring fees for mandatory uniforms, books and other materials, as well as a tax on student participation in class.

Case Study: Nairobi

In Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, an estimated 72 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, and 60 percent of residents live in slums with limited access to public education. Case in point: Within a range of 5 kilometers, there is often only one public school available to every 10,000 students, according to regional research. In comparison, low-income families may find five or six APS available within a range of 3 kilometers.

Nairobi-based APS are usually managed by sole proprietors with prior teaching experience, or they may be run by partnerships that involve a married couple. The government largely does not formally recognize the schools.

Affordable Private School Profile

The following are common attributes of affordable private schools in Kenya:

School Management & Operations

  • Sole proprietors typically run the schools; very few receive outside philanthropic support; and none receive state funding.
  • Monthly school tuition ranges between $4 and $7 per student.
  • Student enrollment ranges from 180 and more than 400 students per school.
  • Schools typically have limited access to running water, electricity, libraries, labs, playgrounds, desks and chairs.
  • In general, the average salary of a private schoolteacher is one fourth to one third that of a government schoolteacher.
  • Many schools offer discounts to children based upon financial need.

Teaching & Learning Environment

  • Schools provide instruction in English, and largely follow the Kenyan National Curriculum.
  • Student-to-teacher ratios are between 25 and 45 students per teacher.

School Associations

  • Kenya has only a few active associations, including the Kenyan Independent Schools Association(KISA).

 

Resources

 

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