Overcrowding in Nairobi Classrooms Sparks Teacher Frustration

Teachers across Nairobi are raising the alarm over escalating class sizes that are stretching both professionals and institutions to their limits. In schools where a single educator is now frequently managing 70‑80 pupils — far above recommended numbers — instructors say the overload is undermining their ability to teach effectively and placing undue strain on the education system.
The crowding crisis is rooted in rapid enrollment growth paired with inadequate infrastructure and teacher deployment. A recent feature in Education News explains how learners are squeezed into classrooms once designed for half the number, with desks shared and many students left without proper study space. Discipline, lesson pacing and individual learner support all take a hit when classes swell beyond manageable levels. According to the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), even Nairobi — which fares better than some rural regions — is facing a learner‑to‑teacher ratio far exceeding optimal levels in certain neighbourhoods.
Educators say the impact is two‑fold: student learning deteriorates and teacher morale tanks. Many report feeling defeated by the inability to provide tailored support, and resorting to endurance teaching rather than meaningful instruction. According to one teacher interviewed, More time is spent managing noise and administrative burden than facilitating learning. The frustration is shared by parents too, who worry that large class sizes diminish the value of their children’s education and hamper efforts to implement the Competency‑Based Curriculum effectively.
Looking ahead, officials say urgent structural interventions are required. The Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) have been urged to prioritise building additional classrooms, recruiting more teachers and enforcing viable class size limits. Without such reform, the quality of education in Nairobi may continue to dip — and both students and teachers may bear the costs of an overcrowded classroom system.