Nairobi: A non-governmental organization has partnered with the government and other education stakeholders to address school dropout rates amongst girls in Homa Bay county.
According to Kenya News Agency, the organization, named Population Council Kenya, has introduced a Gender in Education Action Plan for 2026-2030 aimed at addressing disparities in school completion rates between boys and girls in the region. Lilian Agesa, a lead researcher at Population Council Kenya, emphasized that the plan targets issues such as teen pregnancies, HIV infections, child labor, poverty, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
Statistics show that while primary school completion rates in Homa Bay favor girls, with 85.5 percent of girls completing primary school compared to 70.3 percent of boys, the trend reverses in secondary school. Completion rates there favor boys, with 56.7 percent as opposed to 52.9 percent for girls, Agesa noted during the action plan’s launch at Cold Springs Hotel.
Agesa highlighted that over 30 percent of girls in Homa Bay do not complete secondary school due to social vices at the community level. Boys are similarly affected, facing challenges like poverty and child labor, which contribute to dropout rates as well.
Homa Bay County Director of Education Eunice Khaemba pointed out the triple threat of teenage pregnancy, new HIV infections, and gender-based violence as significant challenges for girls. She added that early marriages and socio-economic factors, such as poverty and orphanhood, contribute to older school entry ages and increased vulnerability to dropping out, particularly for girls.
The action plan’s launch witnessed commitments from various stakeholders to support initiatives aimed at keeping girls in school. Elijah Munga, Homa Bay County Gender Committee Executive, and Martin Opere, County Education Executive, highlighted the county’s ongoing mentorship programs and the need for comprehensive data to support these efforts. The action plan is expected to guide resource allocation efficiently.
Homa Bay Deputy County Commissioner Philip Kipsang stressed the need for equal educational access for both boys and girls, calling for full implementation and support of the action plan to ensure measurable outcomes and sustained educational advancements.
