Education is the passport to the future
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” — Malcolm X
In Kenya, the need for quality education is more critical than ever. Thanks to the Free Primary Education program, the number of children enrolled in school has increased, reaching more than 8 million learners in class. However, completion rates and the development of key skills are still far behind. Recent research has shown that 32% of primary learners fail to sit their final primary school examinations, and only 40% of primary students make it to Form 4 (Business Daily Africa, Daily Nation). As Kenya’s Daily Nation said in September 2018, “…[W]hile we have more children enrolled in school, we also have more children who are finishing primary school and transitioning to secondary level without attaining the required literacy and numeracy skills; one in 10 children in Class 8 can barely read or do arithmetic taught in Class 2.”
The education challenge is particularly difficult for those living in lower-income areas in urban centres like Nairobi. Learners sometimes do not attend class because their families survive on less than $3 a day and must prioritise food and basic living needs over education. Even those who go to school struggle to receive specialised attention in order to reach their potential. Many teachers are standing in front of classrooms of 60 students or more, with only one textbook to be shared across 3 or more children. Without the resources to give their students support, teachers report that their learners are susceptible to dropping out, becoming involved in drug and substance abuse, enrolling in gangs, and missing out on their futures.
It is these teachers who are working tirelessly to build systems of support and compassion for their learners, for it is the collaborative efforts of individuals and communities that forge paths towards social change.
One such example is Mr. Vincent Ojowi, the headteacher of Kwa Watoto Centre & School in the Soweto neighborhood in Nairobi. The Soweto area is faced with many of the same challenges — the lack of resources, poverty, and insecure environments makes it a difficult place to learn. However, he has worked hard to create a safe and motivating space for his students to grow, improve, and succeed.
Watch the video below to hear from him:
Are you done watching? Then by now you have seen that there is still a lot to be done to empower learners across Soweto, Nairobi, and Kenya as a whole. An educated community is the backbone of a brighter future for Kenya and we must all do our part to contribute to that vision!
Together we learn, together we succeed!
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