Like most developing countries, education system in Kenya faces many challenges. During the last four and a half decades of post independent evolution, it has attempted to solve the problem of matching its resources with responsibilities, and though not always successful, it can certainly claim to be moving in the right direction.

AN OVERVIEW OF KENYAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

Since late 1980s, Kenya follows an 8:4:4 system of education, referring to the broad categorisation of educational levels and the years spent in it. It means 8 years to be spent in the primary school, 4 years in the secondary school and another 4 at the college / university level. This does not include the 'pre-primary' schooling provided to children under the age of six. Around 85% of all children enrol for primary education, about 25% attend secondary schools, while only 2% actually join the University.

The enrolment at the primary level has increased since the parliament enacted the Children's bill in 2002, making primary education free since January 2003 and making it mandatory for parents to send their children to primary schools.

Since independence the financing of most schools was based on the Kenyan 'HARAMBEE' system that means "working together for a common purpose" and refers to the community self-help approach whereby community joins the Government in taking responsibility. Lately, the role of Government is rising, as evident from its increased involvement in pre-primary education since 1980s and even greater role in primary education since 2003. Now the Kenyan Government has introduced plans to make secondary education free.

PRIMARY EDUCATION

It starts at age of six years and consists of eight years of schooling, out of which first three may be in the mother tongue, while English is invariably the language of instruction from standards 4 to 8. Most schools are public and run on the basis of harambee system, but the number of private schools, though small as yet, is rising very fast. Most schools are co-ed though a few only-girls schools also exist. The primary education ends with an exam for Kenya Certificate of primary education.

Certain semiarid areas in Kenya like Maasai, Samburu, Turkana, and Somali, are inhabit by very poor nomadic people who wander around looking for pasture for their livestock. In these areas the school concept is different, and consists of mobile schools that move along with them on a camel's back. They provide education in a more informal

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