Since living here for just over a year we have definitely seen the “truth” in what the government claims as “free education”. Recently the Daily Nation (Kenyan newspaper) reported that “The government allocates Sh1,020 per child per year in public schools, translating to Sh8,160 for eight years of primary school.” Now let me give you a bit of perspective:
1,020 shilling = approximately $12 USD for one child per year in school
8,160 shilling = approximately $95 USD per child for 8 years of primary school.
A few examples of costs for schools are: salary (for one teacher $70/month and up), electricity ($93/month, if they have it) and water ($46/month again, if they have it). Don’t forget meals (served at least once a day) and day staff (cook, watchman) – sorry I don’t know these costs. But because of these costs many additional items are passed on to the parent in addition to school fees. For example if the child is boarding at school: a mattress ($10), blanket ($9 and up) uniform ($5 and up), pencils (1 pencil $.35), text books (one dictionary, $9) and other essentials such as bathing soap, clothes washing soap, shoe polish, valon (used on the skin) and more which all add up (again, on top of school fees) to a significant cost for the parent. (All values are approximate and reflect my experiences only). Of course if the child is a day-scholar (meaning they come to school each day and go home at night) those costs are lower…but many are still paying for transportation either by increased school fees and could also be paying for a bus the school has purchased.
Remember this is for PRIMARY school only (the one the government says is “free education”). If any child continues onto secondary (9th – 12th grades) the program is entirely different. The government pays approximately 10% of the required costs and the other 90% has to be paid by parent, guardian or sponsor. This is one of the main reason kids in Kenya do not continue on to secondary.
Mind boggling isn’t it? I’m praying one (or two or three) of the kids we are working with will grow up to see the, ok I’m going to say it, evil that is happening in the government, their attitude towards education and their lack of respect for God and the citizens of this country and do something about it for the glory of God and the good of the people.