Rural school closures surge in Kenya as new curriculum and falling enrollment take toll

Over 2,000 primary schools face possible closure in rural Kenya as the Competency-Based Education curriculum and demographic shifts reduce pupil numbers.

• Education Minister Julius Ogamba announced that 2,145 public primary schools will close or merge to optimize resources, setting a minimum enrollment of 45 students for viability.
• Three rural schools in Kitui county—Kaliluni, Sooma, and Manooni—have lost most of their pupils or closed entirely due to inadequate facilities and teacher shortages.
• Ten secondary schools were closed earlier in the year after teachers found no students enrolled, according to local media reports.
• Approximately 1.1 million grade 10 students, the first full cohort under the new system, moved to senior school in January.