Nairobi — A majority of children in North Eastern province were still out of school a year after the Government introduced free learning, a UN report reveals.

Only eight out of every 100 children were enrolled in primary schools in two of the province's districts - Garissa and Ijara- despite the introduction of the free primary education programme in 2003.

The two districts had a primary school enrolment of 8.8 per cent. Wajir and Mandera with 14. 24 per cent respectively completed the poor enrolment figures in the province. The total average enrolment for the province was 14 per cent - the lowest in the country.

But a robust primary school enrolment rate was recorded in Rachuonyo, where it hit 148 per cent - the highest in the country - according to the latest United Nations Development report.

Since the enrolment rate benchmark should be 100 per cent, a higher figure means that almost all of the school going age children took advantage of the programme plus all the over-age children who were previously out of school.

Grade repetition

The report, launched on Thursday by Planning minister Anyang' Nyong'o, lists each district's primary, secondary, and tertiary enrolment rate by 2003. The figures reflect the number of students enrolled in a level of education, regardless of age, as a percentage of the population of official school age for that level.

The enrolment can be greater than 100 per cent as a result of grade repetition and entry at ages younger or older than the typical age at that grade level.

Population education experts were yesterday predicting increased enrolment figures in most districts.

"Districts in which enrolment has surpassed the 100 per cent mark mean that many of their children were being left out of the school system before the introduction of the free programme," said University of Nairobi lecturer Boniface K'Oyugi.

Dr K'Oyugi, who teaches statistics at the Population Studies and Research Institute, explained that previous enrolment figures were low because many eligible children were out of school for lack of school fees and other socio-economic factors.

According to the report, Kajiado and Keiyo had an enrolment of 140.3 per cent followed by Mt Elgon (135.2), Homa Bay (133.4), Bungoma (129.7) and Nyando (125.9).

Overall, Nyanza Province had the highest over-enrolment rate at (115.9) followed by Western at 115.8.

Rift Valley had 101.1, Eastern (104), Coast 82 and Nairobi (62). It means that many children in Nairobi were still out of school despite the free programme.

But generally, enrolment in the entire country stood at 87.8 per cent, meaning that there were still many children out of school.

It is believed that more than 1.7 million children are still out of the school system due to child labour and other socio-cultural practices.

But the figures presented by the UN report are likely to be significantly different today.

According to new statistics obtained by the Nation yesterday, the total primary school enrolment, which stood at 7.2 million, had increased by 7.4 million last year. Those of pupils enrolled in private schools also stood at 252,593 and would have increased.

At the secondary school level, the report paints a gloomy picture on the transition rates. Most of the districts report enrolment rates of less than half of those reported at the primary school level.

Only Kiambu District reported an enrolment of 30.2 per cent. All other districts had less than that with Keiyo (29.4) and Nyeri (26.1) following in that order.

Overall, North Eastern reported the least enrolment figure of 2.6 per cent while Central led with 21.8.

The report reveals that adult literacy rates were average in most parts of the country. But Marsabit, which brings up the rear, had an adult literacy rate of only 17.4. The import of this is that more than three quarters of adults in the district can neither read nor write.

Central had the highest literacy rate of 82.79 per cent followed by Nairobi (82.2), Nyanza (71.1), Western (67.94) and North Eastern (62.1). Others were Eastern (62) and Coast (60.6).

At the tertiary education level, the report shows that all districts had an enrolment of less than six per cent in 2003. This is a sad pointer given the fact that graduates of colleges and universities are needed in the job market.

The report urges universities to work out ways to ensure a working partnership with employers.

It says incentives for private firms to carry out research and development in the country were rare, calling for financial input in that area.

The UN report urged the Government to create an environment that encourages scientific innovation.

According to the report, Kenya had the political and economic stability needed for growth in inventions.