IMPACT OF FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION ON LEARNERS WITH SPECIFIC LEARNING DIFICULTIES IN NAKURU MUNICIPALITY KENYA

ABSTRACT

This research report is set to find out how Free Primary Education will help to reduce the number

of illiterate people both for the Normal and those children with Special Education Needs in the

country. It is also set to find out how Inclusive Education in the normal schools will help to

develop a well integrated community where children with Special Education Needs are no longer

stigmatised as good for nothing or too expensive to take to school.

Children with special Education Needs can also enjoy a good learning atmosphere together with

the normal within their environment. Creating this awareness among the parents and teachers as

well as the children themselves can lead to successful integrated approach to inclusive education.

Since literacy is a measure of a nation’s development, it is therefore important find out how the

introduction of Free Primary Education in our country help to achieve this very important

developmental measurement goal.

The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of free primary education on learners with

specific learning difficulties to be able to establish the number of pupils enrolled and the problems

encountered by teachers in regular schools.

To establish the facilities available and the ratio of teachers to pupils in the learning institutions.

Being a full-time teacher in one of the primary schools in Nakuru Municipality, it was indeed so

difficult for the researcher to get a rather ample time.

Travelling from one station to another was quite difficult.

The decision by the government to offer Free Primary Education is a welcome move. Many

Kenyans are happy with this decision. The influx of children to the primary school at the

beginning of 2003, was a clear indicator that the government was responding to a felt need of

many Kenyans, especially the poor, and disabled members of the society.

The government should employ more teachers to ensure quality of education is not compromised.

Primary education should not only be free but also made compulsory for all.