Dropout rates are higher at primary than secondary level

This week, we look at completion rates of pupils following the introduction of free primary education in 2003. To understand the effect of this policy on enrollment and transition, we have followed the class that entered Standard 1 in 2003 throughout primary to secondary school, with the following results.

Of the 1.3 million pupils who entered Standard 1 in January 2003, 67 per cent of both boys and girls completed primary school in 2010. But of the 1.3 million pupils who enrolled in Standard 1 in 2003, 35 per cent completed Form 4, with boys constituting a completion rate of 36 per cent and girls having a completion rate of 34 per cent.

Of the 521,610 boys and girls that enrolled in Form 1 in 2011, 88 per cent completed Form 4. This indicates dropout rates are higher at primary than secondary level by 21 percentage points.

— Institute of Economic Affairs, Kenya