Anthony Kitimo
11 November 2009
Nairobi — Early pregnancies at the Coast are the cause of reduced numbers of girls sitting for national examinations.
Coast Provincial Director of Education Tom Majani said this year the number of girls sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Examination (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination (KCSE) has reduced because of underage pregnancies.
Mr Majani said the rate of school dropout in girls is increasing hence raising concern among the local administration.
"School enrolment among girls in lower primary is usually more than that of boys but during exam registration the number of boys exceeds that of girls by far because most girls drop out of school because of early marriages and early pregnancies," said Mr Majani.
The officer said this year 53,361 candidates are sitting for KCPE exam and only 21,471 candidates are girls while last year the difference of girls to boys sitting for exams was less than 2,000.
He said despite the government's effort in offering free primary education, about 40 per cent of children have not enrolled in classes.
"All education stakeholders need to join hands to ensure school enrolment improves and make strategies to ensure cases of school dropout are reduced," said Mr Majani.
The Nation has learnt that more than 20 candidates are sitting their exams in different regions of Coast Province while pregnant, with Kaloleni and Kinango having largest number of those cases.
Mr Albert Kalama, director of one of the community based organisations in Kaloleni confirmed that two candidates are sitting for their KCPE pregnant in Vinagoni Primary while several have been forced to drop out of school.
"School dropout among girls in Kaloleni and Kilifi district is worrying," said Mr Kalama.
He challenged local administration to take cases reported to them involving child violence seriously to reduce the cases.
"Several men marry young girls and no action is taken hence encouraging others to do so," said Mr Kalama.
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