HIV/Aids pandemic has been cited as one of the contributing factors to the declining education standards among the girls in Nyanza province.

Kisumu rural MP Prof. Anyang Nyong'o says that the pandemic has had a devastating impact on girls in the area as many had been left orphaned after their parents succumbed to the disease.

Prof. Nyong'o said members of parliament from the region had allocated a large amount of constituency development funds {CDF} to improving physical facilities in schools to check the trend that he said was worrying.

The Legislator said there was need to increase social amenities for girls in schools and provide sanitary facilities as a way of encouraging retention in schools.

Prof. Nyong'o said recommendations arising from stakeholders education meeting in July aimed at reversing declining education standards in the province had been forwarded to the education ministry for implementation.

Friday,two Members of Parliament from Nyanza province attributed the declining education standards in the area to high poverty levels.

Nyando MP Eric Nyamunga and his Gem counterpart Jakoyo Midiwo said whereas the province had high irrigation potential, floodwaters were not being harnessed to improve on agricultural development.

The two legislators said the situation has contributed to high poverty levels, hence impacting negatively on education standards especially the girl-child.

Speaking to the press Friday, the legislators called for the implementation of an affirmative action to help address the high disparity in education where girls continued to perform poorly in national examinations as compared to boys.

Midiwo also blamed declining education standards in the province to lack of adequate facilities and teachers and called on the Government to address the issue.