Education is not free in Kenya but it is valued highly and sought after by young Kenyans. The cost is minimal by our standards but it is often insurmountable for families who have few resources. Many families have difficulty feeding their families regularly let alone pay school fees, buy books and supplies and purchase a new uniform every year. The families in the communities we work in live in mud huts with no electricity and no running water. Water sources are often miles away. Economic opportunities are few and far between. They live life day to day and have little hope that life will improve. However they are happy and willing to share the little they have. Their greatest desire is for their children to be able to rise above the poverty they live in and have a better life.
These smiles just melt my heart! Mercy, Sharon and Abigail are sisters who have recently been given the opportunity to attend school for the first time. Mercy, the oldest girl, was 12 when she was given her first opportunity to attend school. I met these darling girls (the three tallest) at Sikirrar School in 2018. They are so excited to be able to go to school and learn. As you can see from the pictures their excitement has not worn off after three years.
$90 a term pays school fees for all 3 sisters in their local primary school. $50 – $60 purchases one new uniform for the year. $150 covers the annual cost of school fees, a school uniform and a few school supplies for one sister. $450 educates all three sisters, Mercy, Sharon and Abigail, for a year as well as providing a new uniform for each. A $15 monthly donation covers the costs of one primary student for an entire year.
Are you aware many Kenyans leave school by Grade 8? School fees run $30-$70 a term in Primary school and jump to $200-$350 a term in Secondary. Livestock is the key to income for many families, however the flocks are small. One or two goats can be sold to cover school fees for one child for one term in Primary school. With 3 school terms per year, a large family, and limited resources Primary School fees are a challenge. Secondary School fees are an insurmountable obstacle for most families to overcome.
Alex’s family faced this situation in 2017 with two siblings now in Secondary School. There were not enough goats to cover the cost of schooling for all the siblings. My support community assisted in paying school fees in 2017 for Alex’s siblings. We also managed to assist Alex to realize his dream of attending University. He graduated from university in December 2019 at the top of his class. During his university studies he also got married to Eliza and they have a son, Trevis. He has since started several small business enterprises which are starting to produce a small profit and he has started his first job. His only brother, Maxon, has graduated from high school and is just completing a one year certification program in veterinarian science. Anne, his oldest sister, graduated from high school this past April, is living at home and assisting with the Olotoroki (Bee) Initiative in the village. Emily will graduate in 2022 and Samato will start Secondary School in 2022. Alex’s family is on the road to self reliance and are beginning to pay their own way. The family has also adopted a few extended family members into their household, Leyian and Miriam.
Students face big challenges to continue their education beyond Primary School. School fees for secondary schools often quadruple from the primary schools fees. Boarding schools for secondary education are the norm in this area of Kenya. There are few local secondary schools. When students begin their secondary education there are quite a few supplies that must be bought such as mattresses, bedding, hygiene items, a locker trunk, etc. These costs generally run $300 to $350 at the beginning of their first year of secondary school. These expenses are on top of the school fees, books and supplies. This is a huge financial hurdle for families to overcome. The costs associated with Secondary School often prevents students from continuing their education past Eighth Grade.
The average cost per term for Secondary Schools is $250. The first year of secondary school costs per student are approximately $1000 to $1200 for the year. A monthly donation of $100 will cover the expenses for a first year student. A $65 – $75 monthly donation will cover the majority of expenses each year for the second thru fourth years of secondary school. The school fees and cost of start up supplies vary from school to school.
“Education breeds confidence.
Confidence breeds hope.
Hope breeds peace.”
Confucius