The Issue of Poverty in the Provision of Quality Education in Kenyan Secondary Schools

• Published in: Educational research and reviews Vol. 2; no. 7; pp. 157 - 164
• Main Author: Mualuko, Ndiku J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Academic Journals 01.07.2007
• Subjects: Access to Education; Educational Quality; Foreign Countries; Kenya; Living Standards; Poverty; Secondary Schools; Social Services; Kenya
• ISSN: 1990-3839

Poverty which can be defined in terms of extreme, moderate and relative poverty is a threat to existence of humanity in modern times especially in the developing world. Worst hit are countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The millennium development agenda set to reduce poverty by a half by the year 2015. This expresses the global commitment in ensuring the living standards of mankind. In Kenya the wish to alleviate poverty has been articulated since independence through various sessional papers, commissions, taskforces and development plans. Several proposals have been made in these documents on how to reduce poverty. However, the challenges of poverty still abound in Kenya. These challenges threaten provision of social services among majority of Kenyans who total about 56%. One of the basic social services which is highly threatened is the provision of quality education. This paper articulates the issue of poverty in provision of quality education. Causes, characteristics, and effects of poverty in Kenya are discussed. Indicators of quality education are discussed along with the government's efforts to reduce poverty and realize provision of education to most of the deserving citizens. Conclusions are drawn from the discussions and recommendation made on how best to address the affects of poverty in the provision of quality education. (Contains 2 tables.)