Planning and Analysis of Educational Facilities using GIS: A Case Study of Busia County, Kenya

Abstract

The educational sector in Kenya as in many other third world countries is faced with numerous challenges such as lack of infrastructural and human resources, poor accessibility, imbalance between demand and supply, among others. A spatial analysis on the situation of the sector for a better understanding is essential at various geographical levels in order to evaluate the extent of these challenges. The purpose of this study was to illustrate how GIS can be used in addressing the educational planning problems through a case study of educational facilities in Busia County. The study involved inventory mapping of all the educational facilities in the County in the backdrop of existing road networks, analysis of the regional distribution of educational facilities, and evaluation of spatial accessibility to the facilities. Demographic data were used in demand analysis for various educational services within the county. Using the demand ratios such as school age population to primary schools, Secondary schools to primary schools, teacher to student ratio and student to toilet facility ratios demand maps and graphs were generated in GIS environment that clearly illustrates the challenges facing parents and other stakeholders as well the disparities in provision of quality education within the County. In addressing the spatial distribution challenges especially in the imbalance in demand and supply, Centres of Excellence are proposed, and suitable public primary schools are identified for expansion to secondary schools, based on certain criteria such as number of facilities, land size the school is located, and topography.