Kenyan Student Abroad Shares Sharp Contrast Between Kenya and China’s Education

A Kenyan student studying engineering in China has described notable differences between the two countries’ education systems, based on her personal experience.

Abigail Akinyi, 28, from Kitale in Trans Nzoia County, said adjusting to academic life in China required significant cultural adaptation. Having studied in Kenya before moving abroad, she observed clear contrasts in both structure and expectations.

In Kenya, she explained, many secondary schools are boarding institutions where students follow strict schedules, including early morning and evening study sessions. At the university level, however, students generally manage their own time with limited supervision. 

In China, she encountered a more structured system. She noted that by early evening, many students return to classrooms for supervised self-study, and attendance is often expected.

Akinyi said the Chinese approach places strong emphasis on both understanding and memorisation. She was particularly struck by the level of detail expected in subjects such as mathematics, where students memorise constants like pi to a high degree of accuracy, beyond the commonly used 3.14 in Kenya. She described this as part of a wider focus on precision and discipline.

Outside academic work, she also experienced unfamiliar practices. Before starting her studies, she took part in military-style training that included drills and uniforms. She also observed differences in student accommodation. 

While some international students have access to private facilities, many local students share communal bathrooms, sometimes at an extra cost. Akinyi did not rank one system above the other. Instead, she said each reflects the priorities of its society and operates effectively within its own context.