Kenya’s pre‑primary school enrolment surged to 3.12 million learners in 2025, marking a sharp rise from 2.91 million the previous year, according to the Economic Survey 2026 released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
The increase, driven largely by more girls joining classrooms, reflects growing access to early childhood education across the country.
The report shows that enrolment grew by 7.1 percent, with girls accounting for 49.6 percent of pupils. Education analysts attribute the gains to sustained government and community campaigns promoting early learning, alongside targeted interventions aimed at keeping girls in school from the earliest stages. “Near‑equal enrolment of boys and girls at pre‑primary level demonstrates the success of policies that address barriers to girls’ education,”the report read.
Infrastructure expansion has also supported the growth. The number of pre‑primary schools rose to 48,190 in 2025, up from 47,760 in 2024, improving access in underserved regions. Teacher capacity is expanding as well, with trained educators increasing by 5.5 percent to 81,843, of whom 87.4 percent are female. Experts say the presence of female teachers provides critical role models and safe learning environments that encourage girls’ enrolment and retention.
Across the basic education cycle, combined enrolment in primary and junior schools reached 11.9 million learners in 2025, representing an 11.2 percent increase. The Competency‑Based Education (CBE) system recorded its first full junior school cohort, with 3.7 million learners in Grades 7, 8 and 9. Meanwhile, the gradual phase‑out of the 8‑4‑4 system saw secondary school enrolment stand at 3.34 million students in Forms 2, 3 and 4.
The number of basic learning institutions also grew, rising to 130,659 in 2025 from 129,463 the previous year. This includes 39,339 primary schools, 32,079 junior schools, and 11,051 secondary schools. Analysts argue that such expansion is vital to sustaining enrolment growth and easing pressure on existing facilities.
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Financial investment in education continues to rise. Total expenditure is projected to increase from Sh615.8 billion in 2024/25 to Sh702.1 billion in 2025/26, with recurrent spending accounting for 95.8 percent of the budget. While bursary allocations have dropped due to the shift to the New Funding Model, student financing has expanded, with loans disbursed by the Higher Education Loans Board climbing by 32.1 percent to Sh62 billion.
Beyond basic education, the survey highlights growth in skills and higher learning institutions. The number of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions rose by 13.4 percent to 3,126, while universities increased from 72 to 74. Experts say these investments are critical to preparing learners for Kenya’s evolving economy.
The report noted that early gains in pre‑primary enrolment, particularly among girls, are crucial for long‑term outcomes. “Getting more girls into school early improves retention, learning outcomes, and transition to higher levels of education. It is one of the most effective ways to narrow gender gaps across the system,” the survey noted.
By Enock Masaki
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