Class 8 graduates are heading out to secondary school very, very soon. This week the calling letters for secondary schools are anticipated to arrive. Calling letters are the ‘invitation letters’ from various secondary schools to invite students to attend their school. Once a student receives a calling letter it isn’t mandatory they attend that school, they can look for a different school if they wish. So far we have received 4 calling letters out of the 9 students and hope to get the rest today or tomorrow.
The calling letter is much more than just an invitation, it gives a breakdown of school fees, rules, policies, medical forms, list of supplies needed and text books required. Here is just a small sample of what the high schools require parents/guardians/sponsors (of which C4KK is) to purchase and fill out for the child. This is from one particular secondary school but it’s pretty similar with the rest. Also remember they are receiving their letter with this information this week and will be required to begin school around January 30th with all the supplies and school fees paid, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for everyone to prepare.
- Bed sheets, blankets and mattress
- bucket and basin for washing clothes and bathing
- all personal hygiene items for the term (Jan-Mar), i.e. soap for bathing and washing clothes, toothpaste, shoe polish, etc.
- English dictionary
- Swahili dictionary
- Atlas
- Geometrical set
- Bible
- Hymnal
- Mosquito net
- reading books for English and Swahili – depending on school the number of books varies from 2 up to around 8-10
- A pregnancy test is required for one school (not sure of the others as we haven’t received any other letters)
- student information form including questions like 1) number of mother’s children, 2) number of father’s children, 3) number of father’s wives and 4) religion of student