FortySouth

It is reported that 249,856 out of 695,728 pupils that sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam in November 2008 won’t find placement in High Schools in the country. At the same time, the World Bank’s Africa Development Indicators 2008/9 noted:

Youth make up 36.9% of the working-age population, but 59.5% of the total unemployed, which is much higher than the world’s average for 2005 (43.7%)

Since the placement shortfall is a trend that has been on for several years, I couldn’t help but notice the correlation between the two events – a lack of higher education greatly impedes ones ability to obtain gainful and progressive employment.

What is curious is that no definitive programs, such as vocational training etc., are provided for by the government to cater for these pupils that are left out. Perhaps they’re not vocal enough about any that may be in existence?

I think if we’re serious about eradicating poverty and mitigating crime, it should begin with providing more educational opportunities for this generation especially, even for those that may not have done as well as they could have in this single exam. My sense is that these statistics will only burgeon in the years to come, with more children taking advantage of free primary education.

Update:

Here’s the official breakdown of HS placement: