Among the many fascinating people I encounter as a journalist, meeting Mary Njoroge, Kenya's former Director of Basic Education and leader of the Abolition of School Fees Initiative, represents a highlight.
First, to be a woman going against the grain in a patriarchal society cast Ms. Njoroge as a revolutionary in a culture often apathetic to the plight of women. She's not alone. It is mostly women's groups and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) building the foundation of educational excellence in Kenya.
To view how far the country has gone, in 2003, Kenya had one million children attending schools, now it has 86 million! Yes, 93 percent of all school-age children are in school.
As Njoroge spoke, it was clear that abolishing fees and opening education to everyone was just the beginning of a steep challenge. In northern Kenya, nomadic communities require the Kenyan government to think out the box, hiring teachers who can follow the tribes as they move in search of grass and water for their animals. Boarding schools are another solution although it separates the family and convincing Kenyan parents to leave their girls behind is a tough challenge. Far too often, girls are seen as the workhorses of the family or a prize to be married off to the highest bidder. The scourge of HIV/AIDS has orphaned families and often a girl must choose between an education and bringing up her brothers and sisters. Working with imans is another challenge.
"They still don't get it," Njoroge said of the struggle to convince religious leaders that even the pious will do better learning to read and write.
Six decades ago, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights declared that everyone has the right to an education. Today, there are over 70 million children in the world still without this basic human right. That's horrible. And its why we all ought to be banking on the success of a global fund set up to pay for educational access for all in poor countries.
No comments:
Post a Comment