Fafi registers highest transition rate at 96%

Fafi MP Salah Yakub interacts with teachers and parents during the third edition of the Fafi Secondary School Bursary launch for the 2025/2026 academic year. / STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Fafi MP Salah Yakub interacts with teachers and parents during the third edition of the Fafi Secondary School Bursary launch for the 2025/2026 academic year / STEPHEN ASTARIKO

Fafi Constituency has emerged as the top performer in education in Garissa, recording a 96 per cent transition rate from primary to junior and senior secondary schools, according to a new report by the County Education Department.

The Transitional Policy Report, released on Monday, shows that over 2,000 pupils transitioned from primary to junior secondary school, while approximately 1,000 learners successfully moved from junior to senior secondary level during the last academic year.

Education officials attribute the performance to sustained investments by the Fafi National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), particularly the zero-fees education programme introduced three years ago.

The initiative has significantly reduced dropout rates and improved learner retention across the constituency.

Speaking to the star on phone, Fafi sub-county director of education Garat Dakane attributed the success to the zero school fees programme run by the constituency.

“The zero-fees education programme introduced three years ago by the MP has been a real game changer in this constituency. It has seen many learners, even those who would have dropped out of school for lack of school fees join,” Dakane said.

“As we speak, we are at 100 percent transition rate for both junior and senior secondary schools. In fact in some schools, the numbers have surpassed those we expected. The incentives, which include the provision of everything, including learning materials with the learner only required to avail themselves in the school, has worked the trick,” Dakane added.

He said the program has seen parents from other constituencies try to secure slots for their children in schools in Fafi.

Bura East sub-county director of education Ali Madobe supported Dakane's views saying things have changed from previous years when there were challenges in ensuring that learners transition to secondary school.

“I want to underscore the impact of targeted funding, supportive policies, and strategic investments in improving student transition and overall education outcomes. This program is a good example of that,” Madobe said.

Speaking in Galmagala on Thursday last week during the third edition of the Fafi Secondary School Bursary launch for the 2025/2026 academic year, MP Salah Yakub said the initiative was driven by the need to ensure a 100 per cent transition rate from primary to secondary school.

“When I first announced that under my leadership no child would stay at home because of school fees, many people did not believe it was possible,” Yakub said. “Even after we started implementing it, there was still a lot of pessimism.”

He noted that consistency and collaboration were key to the programme’s success.

“We stayed on course, and slowly even the doubting Thomases began to believe that it was doable. We brought school heads on board because they are the ones who would ensure the programme either succeeds or fails. We have been consistent in supporting them by ensuring that school fees for every child are paid on time. Thank God our joint effort has started yielding fruit and I am a very happy man,” the MP said.

He noted that significant investments have also been made in modern infrastructure, including the construction of classrooms and dormitories so as to accommodate more students who have since joined the schools.

The programme has also incorporated students undertaking teaching courses at Garissa Teachers Training College, where a total of 79 students from the constituency are being fully sponsored through NG-CDF.

The MP said the teachers being trained will address the problem of teacher shortages in the constituency.