Title: An analysis of social costs of secondary education in Kenya after the introduction of subsidised secondary education in 2008

Authors: Nelson Jagero

Addresses: Dar es Salaam College, Kampala International University, P.O. Box 9790, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to evaluate social cost of educating day and a boarding student in secondary schools in Kenya after the introduction of free day secondary education in Kenya by the government in January 2008. After the introduction there were 1.2 million additional students enrolled in the secondary education sector. Saturated and systematic random samplings were used in the study. The sample size was 243 respondents that were distributed as follows; five head teachers, 43 form four teachers, 93 day students and 103 boarding students. The study found out that the direct social cost of educating a boarding and a day student was Ksh 74,140 and Ksh 68,327 respectively. 90.1% of direct social cost was utilised in the payment of teachers| salaries. The government subsidy has reduced direct private cost to households by 40.22% for day students and 28.23% for boarders, but the direct social cost to the Kenyan taxpayers has increased by 28.23%.

Keywords: boarding school students; secondary schools; day students; secondary education; social cost of education; private cost of education; free day sachool education; FDSE; Kenya; private costs; cost to taxpayers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2011.042402

International Journal of Education Economics and Development, 2011 Vol.2 No.3, pp.213 - 224

Published online: 11 Oct 2014 *

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