There are more boys than girls in junior secondary, document shows

Female enrolment is significant in urban areas and ASAL regions. [Michael Mute, Standard]

New data by the Ministry of Education shows that there are more boys than girls enrolled in junior secondary schools.

The report reveals that all counties still face regional disparities with low enrolment in all 19,038 public schools.

The details are contained in a ministry document on funding of the junior secondary schools.

Even with the Free Primary Education capitation, girls still find challenges in accessing education. According to the figures, three-quarters of the counties have not achieved gender parity.

Out of 925,752 students enrolled in Grade Seven in public schools, 470,854 are boys.

Male gender is higher in Kakamega at 24,767 boys compared to 24,088 girls. Bungoma recorded 22,946 boys and 21,989 girls, while Nakuru has 21,767 and 20,255 boys and girls, respectively.

On constituencies, the average enrolment in Kinango is higher than those in other constituencies with 3,750 representing boys as opposed to 3,611 girls, while Mt Elgon has 3,639 boys and 3,253 girls.

Kanduyi has 3,623 boys and 3,478 girls, while Alego Usonga and Naivasha constituencies have 3,255 boys and 3,242, and 3,255 boys and 3,082 girls.

In Mbooni, there are 3,140 boys and 2,730 girls, compared to Cherangany with 3,097 boys and 2,863 girls, while Ndiwa and Bumula recorded 3,032 boys and 2,836 girls, and 3,025 boys and 2,831 girls respectively.

Constituencies with the least enrolment include Lagdera which has 177 boys and 151 girls, Lafey (212 boys, 128 girls), Eldas (241 boys, 108 girls), Lamu East (246 boys, 222 girls) and Balambala with 296 boys and 189 girls.

Female enrolment is, however, significant in urban areas and ASAL regions with Nairobi having a total of 21,012 girls and 19,601 boys.

Roysambu constituency leads with 1,456 boys against 1,609 girls, Embakasi North 1,312 boys and 1,509 girls, and Kasarani with 1,391 boys and 1,434 girls.

Other counties with higher number of girls include West Pokot (6,341 boys, 6,594 girls), Nyeri (6,396 boys, 6,463 girls), Turkana (4,834 boys, 4,941 girls) and Tana River, which recorded 2,789 and 2,726 girls and boys. 

The number of boys and girls in Kajiado North and Hamisi is equal at 1,530 and 1,714  respectively.

The counties of Murang’a (11,140 boys, 10,515 girls), Bungoma (22,946 boys and 21,989 girls), Kitui (16,025 and 14,737 girls), Makueni (13,667 boys against 12,472 girls) and Mandera, with 3,926 boys and 2,689 girls, have the highest gender disparity.