World Bank financing in education and poverty reduction in Kenya (1990-2005)

Abstract

This study set out to investigate the impact of education financing on poverty reduction in Kenya. The researcher undertook the study to investigate the impact of World Bank initiatives on poverty reduction in Kenya through education funding. The study used selective and purposive approach to gather primary and secondary data. The research used original government documents and .statistics to portray the nature and extent of government financing in the education sector. Data from the World Bank on education financing was adapted from the bilateral financing documents in the period under study.

The analysis of data was done through tabulation of the figures and qualitatively analyzed on the basis of poverty indicators as defined by the concepts of the research. The key findings of the study indicated that the government of Kenya has made it possible for majority of the population to access education through financing of free primary education and subsidizing the training of teachers. This is meant to readily make available the education services to the public in every part of the country. The free primary education also is opening opportunities for the poor to seek further training at middle and tertiary levels thus increasing the prospects of their employment.

The conclusion that followed from the above observation was that education financing gives an opportunity to the poor to improve their lives through better training and employment opportunities that raise the household incomes. The key recommendation for the government and the World Bank is to increase the financing in the education sector to enable more of the poor people to attain education and increase the chances for employment that would eventually reduce the poverty index levels.