Pupils in a past discussion session. [Photo/Softkenya.com]
Only 3 out of 10 children in Class 3, can do Class 2 work, while 6 out of 100 children in Class 8, can not do Class 2 level work, in Kisumu county.
A recent study by Twaweza East Africa has revealed, indicating learning levels in the county are low.
In terms of districts, 29 out of 100 Class 3 pupils in Kisumu West, can do a Class 2 story compared to 49 out of 100 pupils in Kisumu East District.
38 out of 100 Class 3 pupils in Kisumu East District can do Class 2 Mathematics compared to 42 out of 100 in Nyando District, an indication that learning outcomes are inequitably distributed.
The study also revealed that pupil attendance in the county was higher than teacher attendance.
22 out of 100 pupils missed school compared to 25 out of 100 teachers on the day officials from the research company (Uwezo) visited.
On the same note, 23 out of 100 pupils were absent from school in Nyando District, compared to 22 out 100 in Kisumu East District.
"There are 12 teachers per school with 10 streams in urban areas and 10 teachers for similar school in rural areas. Kisumu West District has twice as many teachers per stream, as Kisumu East and Nyando,'' the report said, in part.
In terms of Early Childhood Education (ECDE), the report revealed the County government's support for it, was below average.
Three out of 10 ECDE centres in the county are supported by the County government, which is below the national average.
''44 out of 100 children of preschool going age, are not attending school.''
Dubbed "Are our children learning?" the report further disclosed girls perform better than boys in reading both English and Kiswahili, in the county.
Literacy levels are however at per, with the national average.
Kisumu East District has the highest literacy levels in both English and Kiswahili, while Kisumu West has the lowest literacy levels in both languages.
Due to this, the County is ranked 22 out of the total 47 counties, countrywide, with an average of 48.8 per cent out of the 47.4 per cent, national average.
This is based on children aged 6-16 years who can do Class 2 work. Children were assessed on up to reading a Class 2 level Story or Hadithi, which is the highest level of literacy in class 2 syllabus.