Kenya ’s education evolution over the last four decades has been marked by tremendous achievements and challenges. Since 1963, sector development has been centered on issues of access, retention, participation, equity, quality, relevance and financing. From January 2003, the Government implemented Free Primary Education (FPE) based on the realization that quality and affordable basic education form the window of hope for poverty eradication and combating other evils in our society. In the NARC manifesto the ruling party committed itself to:
To meet these obligations, the Ministry of Education Science and Technology embarked on setting the stage for sector reform by undertaking the following:
Sector review focusing on analyzing the sector performance based on agreed key indicators;
Held a National Conference on Education in November 2003 (Click here to download PDF format) whose objective was to build a national consensus on the kind of education Kenya needs for the 21 st century;
Developed Sessional Paper No.1 of 2005 (Click here to download PDF format) “A policy framework on education, training and researchfor the 21 st century; and
Developed the Kenya Education Sector Support Programme (KESSP) 2005-2010 to operationalize the Sessional Paper within a Sector Wide Approach to planning (SWAP).
What is a SWAP?
SWAP refers to a process of engaging all stakeholders sector planning in an integrated approach to the provision of quality education and training. It is geared towards:
alignment of sector objectives;
identification and prioritization of interventions;
harmonization of procedures including financing, procurement, accounting and;
integration and co-ordination of all programmes implemented in the country; and
national ownership.
Why SWAP?
SWAP addresses the weaknesses of traditional education and training project approach to sector development. It helps Government and other stakeholders to:
Shift from project planning to programme planning and implementation;
Achieve greater impact on the sector as a whole;
Prioritize resource allocation for greater impact;
Harmonize implementation, coordination, collaboration and partnership mechanisms;
Enhance project ownership among different stakeholders;
Agree on sector policy framework and strategies based on shared priorities; and
Provide opportunities for pooled funding and budgetary support.
The overreaching aim of the Kenyan SWAP in education is to improve efficiency in the investment of scarce resources under the Kenya Education Sector Support Programme (KESSP).
What is KESSP?
What is KESSP?
KESSP is the programme through which the GOK (MOEST), development partners, civil society, communities and the private sector come together to support education sector development for the period 2005-2010.
KESSP fits within the framework of National Policy set out in the Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS) of Government and has been developed through a Sector Wide Approach to Planning (SWAP).
KESSP is composed of 23 investment programmes as follows:
Early Childhood development and Education
Primary School Infrastructure
Primary School Instructional Materials
Pre-Service Primary Teacher Education
In-Service Primary Teacher Education
Expanding Educational Opportunities in Arid and Semi –Arid Lands
Non Formal Schools
Special Needs Education
School Health, Nutrition and Feeding
HIV/AIDS
Adult and Basic Education
Capacity Building
Education Management Information System
Information and Communication Technology in Education
Guidance and Counseling
Quality Assurance and Standards
Secondary Education
In-Service of Teachers at Secondary in Mathematics and Science
Technical, Industrial, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education
University Education
Teacher Management
Gender and Education
Monitoring and Evaluation
Why KESSP?
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