Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya and outgoing Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i address members of the press in a past event. Mvurya has blamed the low form one enrollment in the Coast on the high levels of poverty in the region. [Photo/Hivisasa]
Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya has blamed high levels of poverty in the Coast region for the low enrollment of form one students recorded this year.
Speaking in a press briefing Sunday, Mvurya pointed out that with around three quarters of the coastal people living in extreme poverty, it is hard for most parents to facilitate their children's enrollment in secondary schools, even after the government kicked-off a free education campaign for public institutions.
He said that with the parents still required to acquire some learning materials, as directed by the schools, before their children can be admitted, it becomes a challenge for low income earners.
''Most of the people in the Coast are languishing in poverty and would rather consume the limited financial resources they have than spend it in educational costs,'' he said.
He also stressed on the need for the national government to spearhead the enhancement of learning institutions and facilities in the region.
With this, he said, parents will be more excited about having their kids in school.
''We need infrastructure in our schools to challenge parents to work extra hard to ensure that their children are in school. With sufficient modern facilities in our schools, they will have the urge to go the extra mile to deliver their children to the facilities,'' he added.
The low registration of form one students in the region has since compelled the government to introduce the Peleka Mtoto Shule intiative aimed at bettering the situation.