Nairobi — Tourism minister Najib Balala has called on education officials at the Coast to investigate the high drop out rate in schools and come up with a solution to the growing problem.

According to statistics from the ministry of education, only 38 percent of children who enroll in class one completed the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) raising concerns where the rest of the children ended up.

Mr Balala said the transition rate was worrying making efforts towards improving education standards in the area more challenging.

He was speaking on Tuesday during the Mombasa education consultative meeting at the Serena Hotel where he said despite the huge investment in education in the area the performance was still wanting.

Mr Balala however said as leaders they will continue to press for additional funding in the devolved funds to help boost education.

"We cannot hope to compete in the job market when our people do not have the right education standards and skills.

"It is even worrying that despite the establishment of constituent universities and even after setting slots for children from the region in institutions like Utalii College, very few have the qualifications to get admitted," Mr Balala said.

He said there was a greater need now than ever before to have affirmative action targeting education development to help improve the standards in the province.

The minister however took issue with parents for failing to take up education seriously noting that even the free education that the government has been funding has not had much impact in the area.

Mr Balala said the parents have the obligation to ensure that they invest in the education of their children.

Coast Provincial director of education Tom Majani said his office had started investigations into how students were transferred to another province without the knowledge of the office.

"There are students who have disciplinary cases and should not be allowed to move from one school to another indiscriminately. Every movement of these children must be monitored and if there are any disciplinary cases they must be dealt with accordingly," he said adding that this will help root out indiscipline in schools.