The World Bank has raised fresh alarm over a rapidly worsening global learning crisis, warning that developing countries—including Kenya—risk long-term economic losses unless urgent corrective measures are taken. In its latest education brief released this week, the Bank notes that learning poverty has surged sharply in the aftermath of COVID-19, with 70 percent of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income nations unable to read and understand a basic text. Kenya, which has made notable progress in school enrollment under the CBC and free basic education programmes, is now grappling with the challenge of ensuring that children actually learn once they enter the classroom. The Bank says education systems must accelerate reforms to restore lost learning, strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy, and prepare youth for an increasingly digital and skills-based economy.
According to the report, the pandemic erased nearly two decades of global learning progress, pushing over 70 million people into poverty and inflicting losses equivalent to an entire year of schooling for more than a billion children. The World Bank estimates that these learning setbacks could reduce global GDP growth by 0.68 percentage points, with the current generation of learners projected to lose up to US$21 trillion in lifetime earnings if no urgent action is taken. For Kenya, where national assessments have shown declining reading and numeracy scores at lower primary levels, the findings underscore the need for targeted interventions—especially in rural, arid, and informal-settlement communities where digital access, teacher shortages, and overcrowded classrooms remain persistent barriers. The Bank emphasises that education is critical not only for poverty reduction, but also for job creation, climate resilience, innovation, and long-term economic stability.
To reverse the decline, the World Bank is urging governments to adopt bold Learning Acceleration Programs that prioritise early-grade reading, invest in teacher training, expand ed-tech access, and improve school financing efficiency. It also highlights the importance of linking education to employability through digital skills, technical training, and pathways that allow youth to earn and learn simultaneously. In Kenya, proposed reforms include strengthening the JSS transition, revitalising TVET institutions, and scaling community-based learning support. As the country aligns its strategies with the Bank’s new Education Strategy 2025, policymakers face a defining opportunity: to rebuild an education system that is more resilient, equitable, and capable of preparing learners for a rapidly changing world.