| dc.description.abstract | Structural adjustment policies have now been widely embraced in several African
countries in an effort to enhance growth and development. Among other things, they were
meant to improve economic performance as well as the provision of basic social services such
as education and health. This is supposed to happen through higher economic growth leading
to higher incomes and more resources for these basic needs sectors. However, preliminary
evidence from many of the countries that have adopted these policies indicates that these
policies have led to an increasingly deteriorating profile of basic needs sectors. More
specifically, the education sector has suffered in terms of diminishing accessibility for the
poor. This has been due to the introduction of a policy that requires Kenyans' to share in the
provision of education. Those that are unable to pay have either opted out of school or stayed
on with great difficulties, eroding the gains that had been made previously. These
developments are contrary to the lofty claims originally made with regard to structural
adjustment; claims that structural adjustment would improve basic social services in Africa
generally and Kenya in Particular.
The contradiction between the objectives of structural adjustment and the actual results
have led to a considerable debate and confusion as to the extent of implementation of
structural adjustment programme and what its impact has been. The literature review carried
out indicates that this debate revolves around two thematic issues. The first is that the structural adjustment policies are effective in eradicating poverty
and must, therefore,be continued. This side of the debate is led by the International Financial
Institutions (IFIs) themselves. Even on this side of the debate, the literature reveals that there
is no agreement on the best approach and how far implementation of structural adjustment has schools) education officers, teachers, parents, and pupils in Kisii District and interviewing
the musing systematic sampling techniques as well as using participant/observation techniques.
The study reaches the conclusion that while the extent of the impacts differ in time
and space, the adoption of structural adjustment policies has generally severely reduced
accessibility to education for the poor as well as hurt the quality of education in Kisii District.
A variety of indicators including percentages, ratios, and proportions employed demonstrate
this. Despite this, it is recommended that Kenya continues implementing structural adjustment
policies. However, these should be employed in a different manner from the current
approach that emphasizes a minimal role for the state in development. The state should
liberalize the "purely economic" sectors but spare the basic needs sectors for they are an
investment in human capital. | en |
