studying for a scholarship

studying for a scholarship
Originally uploaded by davida3.

in 2003 the Kenyan government made primary education free for all children. Since then the rate of enrolment of children in primary school has increaed exponentially. However there remain regional disparities, and the large number of children who have enrolled has overwhelmed the system in many places. However ICROSS recognises that education is fundamental to improving health and reducing social inequalities, including gender inequalities. Therefore it has partnered with the government to help build schools in some of the most remote areas. T
However free primary schooling and a high enrolment rate is only the first part of the story- as well as the creaking system other issues mean that attendng school is difficult- As I have described simply finding water and food is a priority for many families-so actually getting to school is not the first thing they think of. As pastoralists the areas over which the familes may range is large and so children often must walk many kilometers to school- and as also one person told me - small children, while they might be able to walk long distances, are also in danger of being attacked by wild animals. Allied to this has been -in the Samburu area at least- a drought last year and intertribal raids which meant families moved out of the areas as refugees- and so again for many school was not a priority. Thankfully they are now moving back .
Teachers are paid by the government and are allocated to areas with little or no choice in that allocation - so they may be allocated to areas where they are not familiar with the local tribal language- I was told teaching is done through Swahili and English.
Girls are less likely to attend school than boys- Many of the practices that impact negatively on women can really only be addressed by education- Female genital mutilation, early marriages and general social deprivation all are best addressed by educating women to a level that allows then to become both questioning of the social norms and also independant and able to earn a living for themselves.

No more thanprovsion of free ARVS for HIV/AIDS but then charging for tests etc, free education does not extend to providing basic basic requirements such as copy books and pens- again ICROSS steps in to help by giving these discreetly to deprived families though the local community workers.

Providing very basic school buildings and pencils and paper may not have the immediacy of, for instance, caring directly for people with AIDS but as a way to improve the health of the population in a sustainable way and address gender inequalities this is the way to go. ~A challenge for ICROSS KENYA is to use it's assets well to address the many areas it needs to deal with-and to balance the application of it's help between good evidence base and sustainablity and immediate and high profile media- ( and donor) attractive interventions.