Online learning remains a hard sell in Kenyan primary and secondary schools, even as awareness among parents continues to grow, a new education report has revealed.
Findings from the Koa Academy Kenya Online Schooling Research show that while eight in ten parents are aware of online learning options, only nine percent have enrolled their children, underscoring a wide gap between awareness and adoption.
The report links the slow uptake largely to perceptions formed during Covid-19 school closures, when emergency remote learning left many parents unconvinced. Online schooling, the research notes, is still widely associated with weak supervision, inconsistency and social isolation, rather than being viewed as a credible full-time alternative to physical classrooms.
Social isolation emerges as a major concern
Concerns around social development remain one of the strongest barriers to acceptance. Parents cited fears that children miss out on peer interaction and teacher engagement in virtual settings.
However, the report highlights that structured online learning models are increasingly addressing these gaps through daily teacher interaction, regular feedback, online clubs, Nairobi-based meet-ups and educational outings, all designed to foster a sense of community and belonging among learners.
Accountability and monitoring also feature prominently in the model, with regular check-ins and digital dashboards used to track student progress. The learning approach is mastery-based, requiring students to demonstrate understanding before advancing.
Evidence from other markets points to strong outcomes. In South Africa, Koa Academy reports a 98 percent Grade 12 pass rate, reinforcing the academic potential of well-structured online schooling. In Kenya, the academy offers the International Secondary Certificate (ISC), benchmarked against UK A-Levels and recognised by both local and international universities.
The report concludes that broader acceptance of online learning in Kenya will depend on credible qualifications, strong structure, social engagement, and proven academic results, rather than awareness alone.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.