Gender equality in all spheres of life is a global priority. Gender equality in education is particularly important as it creates an equitable learning environment where all learners, regardless of gender, possess the same opportunities to succeed. Gender equality policies aim at promoting equal access to education, fosters gender sensitive- curriculum and teaching methods and practices, addresses gender based violence in schools and improves educational outcomes for all genders.
Kenya has made significant progress in advancing gender equality and equity in education through targeted policies and interventions which have been informed by global trends, international law which Kenya is a party. It has developed a robust normative legal framework to promote gender equality and equity in education through among others a Constitution that guarantees the right to education and equality and freedom from discrimination based on any ground. Several other laws and policies have been enacted and developed for the advancement of gender parity and mainstreaming in education as will be shown in this paper.
Despite education being an unalienable right enshrined in most domestic and international policies, gender disparities still exist. In Kenya, these are exacerbated by inadequate implementation of laws and policies, lack of gender responsiveness as well as socio-economic challenges such as poverty and sexual and reproductive health challenges. In addressing gender inequality and inequity in education some gaps have been identified such as; limited implementation of the existing education policies, failure to address and advocate for gender-responsive environments, the policies inability to address economic challenges that contribute to girls lower retention in schools and limited teacher training on gender-responsiveness.
To address these challenges it is recommended that; there needs to be policy and programmatic reforms to ensure gender responsiveness in education, budgetary allocations to cover incidental costs such as menstrual hygiene products, food and transportation, as well as deliberate inclusion of preventive measures to address sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) issues such as school related gender based violence (SRGBV).