UNESCO Nairobi carried out an assessment study of the Free Primary Education programme that was introduced in Kenya in January 2003. The aim was to document the experiences gained in the implementation of free primary education and use them to address emerging challenges.  The specific objectives of the study were to:

1. Establish how free primary education was being implemented in various parts of the country and capture the experiences of the stakeholders;
2. Assess the immediate outcomes of free primary education in terms of school transfers (from private to public schools or vice versa), change in enrolments, class size, use of existing school resources etc;
3. Identify specific resources (money, books and other teaching and learning materials) that schools had received through government funds;
4. Establish the perceptions of different stakeholders on free primary education in regard to quality, efficiency, discipline, and sustainability; &
5. Take stock of the challenges, achievements and existing implementation that should be addressed to strengthen free primary education.

The assessment study found that the free primary education programme faces several challenges. Increased student population; shortage of teachers; need for clear guidelines on age of admission and placement of over-age learners; need for broad consultation with key stakeholders such as teachers and parents were cited as some of the challenges attending to free primary education. It was particularly noted that the implementation of the programme without prior consultation or preparation of teachers and the subsequent communication to sensitise the various stakeholders on their roles were highlighted as hampering the smooth implementation of the free primary education programme. There was general misconception about the meaning of ‘free'  primary education with parents taking the view that they were no longer required to participate in school activities while the political leadership was sending conflicting signals about the parents' and communities' participation in the institutions with messages that funds drive or voluntary contributions were not acceptable. 

► Key findings
► Research team

Challenges of Implementing Free Primary Education in Kenya: Assessment Report. Nairobi: UNESCO. March 2005. [90 pages] [PDF version].

- Free primary education assesment report

Challenges of Implementing Free Primary Education in Kenya: Experiences from the Districts. Nairobi: UNESCO. March 2005. [294 pages] [PDF version].

- FPE Cover page
- FPE Report  [Background and Methodolgy, Kwale District] - pages 1 to 44
- FPE Report [Taita Taveta District] - pages 45 to 104
- FPE Report [Embu District] - pages 105 to 127
- FPE Report  [Mwingi District] - pages 129 to 152
- FPE Report [Nairobi] - pages 153 to 173
- FPE Report [Gucha District] pages 175 to 188
- FPE Report [Kisumu District] pages 189 to 212
- FPE Report [Kaijiado District] pages 213 to 244
- FPE Report [Kericho District, References, Annexes] pages 245 to 294