Deplorable Condition of Schools in Rural Kenya

A visit to a primary school in Kitui county in mid-December was a reminder of the deplorable condition of many schools in rural Kenya. These schools do not provide an optimal learning environment for the children due to the lack of basic amenities.

The ambitious Jubilee government program to connect all primary schools to the electrical grid seems to be on track as there is electrical power at this school, or it will soon be turned on. I do wonder who Kenya Power will send the monthly bills to; the schools or the government?

The school does not have enough permanent or semi-permanent structures that can be used as classrooms for the 200 students. Resulting in some students assigned to learn in a mud-walled, grass thatched structure that is in awful condition.


There are 6 or 7 teachers at the school but only one, the head teacher, is an employee of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The other teachers are hired by the parents and paid a paltry sum.

Whilst there is lots of space for the children to play at the front of the school. There were no visible sports or recreational facilities.

The success of the program to connect schools to the electrical grid demonstrates that the government can accomplish what it prioritises. I hope that the next priority for the government in the education sector with be the adoption of a policy of basic minimum standards for every school in Kenya.

The basic minimum standards for schools should include;

• Classrooms are either permanent or semi-permanent structures; with doors, windows and a permanent floor (concrete, stone or bricks etc);
• A desk and chair for every student;
• Enough teachers, to ensure an appropriate ratio of teachers to students, paid by the TSC;
• Adequate clean water to the school all year round and an adequate number of improved latrines;
• A basic library for each school which includes at least 20 computers; and
• Basic sports and recreational facilities.