A survey by the Kenya Demographic Health Survey now reveals that the teacher population in public primary schools reduced in 2023.
According to the data by KDHS released on Monday, the number of public primary teachers decreased from 221,510 in 2022 to 219,727 in 2023.
However, within the same period, teachers in public secondary schools and teacher training colleges increased from 124,992 in 2022 to 125,563 in 2023.
While teachers in Primary schools reduced in number, the survey showed there was an increase in learner enrolment in schools.
For instance, learners enrolled in Primary schools increased from 10,364,200 in 2022 to 10,387,400 in 2023.
There was also an increase in learner enrolment in Pre-primary by 2.0 per cent to 2,885,600 in 2023
Enrolment in secondary schools grew by 4.8 per cent to 4,109,500 in 2023 from 3,920,300 in 2022.
TVET institutions also recorded an increase in enrolment by 14.3 per cent from 562,499 in 2022 to 642,726 in 2023.
There was also an increase in University enrolment by 2.9 per cent from 562, 900 in 2022/23 to 579,200 in the 2023/24 academic year.
Further, the survey revealed that there was an increase in Helb loan applications.
"Total number of loan applicants went up by 30 per cent from 641,237 in 2022/23 to 833,857 in 2023/24," the report read in part.
KDHS showed that government Helb capitation tripped from Sh10.6 billion in 2022/23 to Sh31.8 billion in 2023/24.
The survey projected that the number of Helb beneficiaries is expected to increase by 60 per cent to 301,916 in 2023/24.
