Income Inequality and Primary School Enrolment in Kenya: an Empirical Analysis

Abstract

The level of income inequality plays a vital role in determining the level of school enrollment in any particular economy, especially in the contemporary world. Enrollment is core in preparing students for the various opportunities in the country and hence key in the determination of the inequality. This has led to global education policy agendas that currently communicate concerns about education quality and access. Kenya is not unique in this, with the country working on increased levels of enrollments and complete transitions to the different levels. This study made use of the cross-sectional data of the Kenya Integrated Housing and budget survey, (KIHBS), 2015/2016, the study examines the relationship between income inequality and primary school enrollment. Using probit model we found a significant and negative relationship between the level of primary school enrolment and inequality levels in Kenya. As the level of income inequality increased in Kenya, many Kenyan children were more prone to be left out of the school enrolment. Other factors such as a good quality education, the implementation of the school feeding program and high number of children in school were found to positively and significantly increase the level of the primary school enrolment in Kenya. Further, this study found that expenditures on education and household size had a negative and significant effect on the level of primary school enrolment .The study advocated for appropriate measures to ensure that the issue of income inequality has been addressed so as to encourage more primary school enrolment, population controls to manageable household size and increase its budgetary allocation to public schools to aid in improving quality education