Kenya has trounced South Africa in literacy levels due to the introduction of free primary education by former President Mwai Kibaki
According to the World Bank Human Capital Index report, Kenya is the third best country in Africa in matters measuring the productivity potential of the youth.
The report, released on Friday, ranks the country based on the harmonised test scores and expected years of school.
The international lender found that a Kenyan child is, on average, likely to have gotten 11 years of education by the time they hit 18 years.
According to the report, children in Nigeria and South Africa are only likely to have received 9.3 years and 8.2 years of education by the time they attain 18 years of age.
The free primary education, which was introduced in 2003, has been highly praised for raising the country’s literacy level and giving the most unfortunate children a chance.
In Sub-Saharan Africa and the world, on average, children are likely to receive 8.1 years and 11.2 years respectively.
In Africa, Kenya only comes behind Mauritius and Seychelles.
In general Human Index, Kenya scored 0.52 trailing Seychelles at 0.68 and Mauritius at 0.63. This means that Kenyans are 52% productive as adults through their experience in Education and Health compared to getting a full state of education and health.
All East African countries scored below the average with Tanzania coming in at 0.4, Uganda and Rwanda tying at 0.38 and Burundi at 0.37.
