The Challenge
About 30%, or three out of 10 students, who enrol for school in Grade one in Kenya, fail to complete their primary education at Grade 8, signifying the high rate of either dropout or repetition of grades. The number is higher in low resourced communities. When Paul’s mum fell sick, he dropped out of primary school to look after her and his younger siblings. A year passed and his dreams of becoming an engineer faded into the background. Many children in Kibera are unable to attend school due to poverty or poverty related problems. These young people join the already huge unskilled workforce competing for unreliable, low- paid work and the cycle of poverty continues. Despite primary education being free in Kenya, the additional costs associated with schooling, such as admission fees, feeding programs, and even desks, make it difficult for parents to afford. As a result, children can be found playing in the streets, running errands, caring for their siblings, or collecting recyclable items to sell for pocket money.
