Nairobi, Kenya — Kenyan schools continue to grapple with the lingering effects of COVID-19 disruptions, with learning losses and educational inequalities widening across the country. Reports from the Ministry of Education indicate that prolonged school closures, irregular access to digital learning, and insufficient support for disadvantaged learners have left many students lagging behind their peers in literacy, numeracy, and essential competencies.
During the pandemic, urban and well-resourced schools were better positioned to adopt online and hybrid learning solutions, while learners in marginalized and rural areas faced barriers such as limited internet connectivity, lack of devices, and insufficient guidance from teachers. Education experts warn that these disparities are now translating into wider performance gaps, particularly in high-stakes exams like the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). The Ministry has initiated remedial programs, including targeted catch-up classes, digital learning grants, and mentorship initiatives, but stakeholders caution that the pace of recovery remains slow.
Parents, teachers, and policy analysts have called for urgent action to prevent permanent setbacks in educational outcomes. The pandemic has reversed years of progress in learning equity. Immediate interventions, especially for vulnerable learners, are critical, said a senior official from the Teachers Service Commission. Looking ahead, the Ministry of Education is considering reforms such as extended school hours, supplementary tutoring, and integration of technology into everyday learning to bridge gaps and ensure that Kenya’s students can recover lost ground and thrive under the Competency-Based Curriculum.