In the last seven years, the education system in Kenya has recorded major developments. ln 2003, the new Kenya Government fulfilled its election pledge that public primary school education would be free. On the day schools opened, one extra million pupils joined public schools.
Today, enrollment stands at close to nine million from 5.9 million in 2002. ln the programme, each pupil gets Sh 1 ,020 ($12.75) a year for writing and reading materials and to meet general school costs. The money is paid to the school. Schools get more money for infrastructure development, water and sanitation.
Another landmark is the introduction of free tuition in secondary schools in Kenya in 2008. Each student is allocated $1110,000 ($125) a year for curricula and co—curricula cost.
Universities in Kenya, too, has expanded. Kenya has 44 universities, seven public and the others private. They have campuses all over the country and the enrollment stands at about 145,000.
Technical education has also made great strides. Kenya and Mombasa polytechnics have been upgraded to university colleges offering degree programmes, while funding to technical institutes, technical training college and colleges of technology has increased.
Youth polytechnics have been boosted and now offer many courses. From an average 10,000 student admission in 2002, public universities has enrolled 24,000 in 2010. Enrollment at the university level has been boosted by the 10-year old so called parallel degree programme in which working professionals and high school leavers enroll for courses of their choice.