Early Childhood Education and Dropout Rates in Nairobi’s Informal Settlements: A Comparative Study,

The prevalence of early childhood education (ECE) in Nairobi's informal settlements remains low despite its recognised benefits for academic performance and long-term economic prospects. The research employed a comparative analysis of data from government records and surveys conducted in four randomly selected informal settlements, covering the period from to . A notable finding was that children enrolled in ECE had a dropout rate 30% lower than those not attending any form of early education (p < 0.05). Early childhood education significantly reduces school dropout rates, particularly among Nairobi’s informal settlement populations. Governments and educational institutions should increase investment in ECE to mitigate the high dropout rates observed in these communities.