'Matiang’i wrong on quality of education in alternative schools'

The Bridge International Academies has faulted the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i following his statement that alternative schools have lower quality education.

While supporting the quality education in alternative schools, the academies’ Director of Communication Lucy Bradlow noted that it is disrespectful to the rights of the child or of parents in Kenya for the Cabinet Secretary to state that he will “ensure that children whose families lived next to public schools got enrolled in these schools”?

“In 2015, Bridge International Academies in Gatina neighbourhood, Kawangware had 92% of its KCPE candidates pass the KCPE. The mean score was 290. In 2014, the last year that the MoEST released data on public school performance, Gatina Primary had only 43% of KCPE candidates pass the exam, and a mean score of 241. A child in Kawangware would be most likely to fail the KCPE attending Gatina Primary, but almost guaranteed to pass at Bridge International Academies in Gatina."

Bridge International Academies has asked the Education Ministry to host a factual review of the performance of alternative schools, and the learning they deliver to hundreds of thousands of children across Kenya.

“We call on parents across the country to consider what it would mean if the MoEST states that every parent must attend a public school, regardless of whether the parent thinks it is the best school for the child,” said Bradlow.

Bradlow said Kenya should work with all partners to ensure that all children receive quality education and asked children to defend their constitutional right.