The Need for Gender Equity in Education in Kenya

Abstract

Kenya recognizes education as a basic human right. Like all human rights it is universal and inalienable. It is also seen as a private and socio-investment which is shared by individuals, their families, employees, governments and international agencies. It forms an integral part of development and strategy for wider development agenda. It involves the art and act of preparing people to create and recreate new working habits and values for the changing live in a dynamic environment (UNESCO, 2002). Education is a cornerstone for economic growth and socio-economic development and a principle means of improving the welfare of individuals. It is as a result of the importance education from a global perspective that the Kenya government recognized the need to provide education for all its citizenry and much more on the girl child and women as a tool for empowering them. The government’s policy in education (ROK, 2002) through the Ministry of Education stresses the need for achievement of Education For All (EFA) as part of global initiative towards provision of education to all mankind. To realize this several improvements have been made literacy level in both male and female shows a gap but it is continuously being narrowed as national enrollment figures in schools is being camouflaged by regional variations. This paper identifies the need for gender equity in education process which is hampered by challenges and attempts to provide and propose positive actions to mitigate the situation.