Coast has most old learners in Grade Three, report shows

Coastal, arid and semi-arid counties had the highest number of over-age learners, according to last year’s Monitoring of Learners Progress for Grade 3.

The just released report by the Ministry of Education tracked the performance of Grade 3 learners across the 47 counties to gauge the progress of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).

The audit was done between July 1 and August 30 last year, with some 1,282,150 learners taking part. Of the total, 604,522 were girls, while 677,628 were boys.

According to the report, nationally, 45.76 per cent of Grade 3 learners who participated in MLP assessment were between aged eight and nine, which is the grade appropriate age.

The report also shows that 39.43 per cent of the learners were overage, from 10 years and above, while 2.59 per cent were underage, below eight years. Some 12.22 per cent did not specify their age.

The counties with the highest percentage of overage learners are Kilifi (74.95 per cent), Kwale (73.74 per cent), Garissa (72.99 per cent), Mandera (65.71 per cent), Turkana (57.02 per cent) and Wajir (52.83 per cent).

Notably, the research shows most of the counties with the highest number of overage learners are in arid and semi-arid (ASAL) areas.

It shows those aged below eight were 33,210, those between eight and nine 586,707 while those above 10 were 505,552. Those who did not specify their age were 156,681.

According to the survey, out of the 46,507 who were assessed in Kilifi, 38,858 were aged 10 and above while Kwale had 19,894 out of 26,977 aged above 10.

Nairobi had the highest number of learners aged between eight and nine years. Of the 91,874 assessed, 63,027 were aged between eight and nine, 1,183 below eight, 18,288 above 10 and 9,376 did not specify their ages.

Kakamega had the second highest number of those assessed at 67,286, most of those aged 10 and above. The county had 30,198 aged above 10, 23,032 between eight and nine, 911 below eight and 13,145 with unspecified ages.

Bungoma, Busia and Vihiga also had a majority of their learners aged above 10.

Mt Kenya counties of Kiambu, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Meru, Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Nyandarua also had majority of their learners falling between the eight and nine age bracket.

In the Rift Valley, Baringo, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Bomet, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, Kericho, Laikipia, Kajiado and Elgeyo Marakwet had a majority of their learners aged between eight and nine years. Narok, Nandi, Samburu, Turkana had most of their leaners aged above 10 years.

Kitui, Marsabit and Isiolo presented more learners aged above 10 years.

Machakos and Makueni counties had more learners aged between eight and nine years.