Educating
the Needy in Kenya: How far can the lifeline go?
COMMENTARY
ON EDUCATION
Jan
27, 2005--
The spirit Kenyans and friends overseas have demonstrated in helping
raise funds for needy Kenyan kids is very encouraging. And this can
provide a life-line for these promising children.
This
story is all too common and many of us can relate to similar times
in the past when someone extended that helping hand that made a
difference to what we are today.
My sense is
that for every kid that gets help, there are thousands (if not tens
of thousands) more than need similar help but whose needs we don't
know about. And many of us can relate to this one too. I know a
number of my standard (grade) seven fellow pupils, many on top of
the class, that failed to get into secondary school because their
parents/guardians had no way of raising the required school fees.
Most affected
were girls who were then pushed into early marriage, usually to
older men
and in some cases as second/third/fourth wives. I see some of them
when I go home to Kenya and I keep wondering what they would have
become had they had the opportunity to go for higher studies.
Which brings
two issues I would like to raise: (a) the right of education for
children, and (b) the impact of the Harambee ban on fundraising
for education purposes.
As we donate
for the specific kids we know about, let's also think about how
such situations can be addressed in the long run. The government,
in my view, has a need to ensure that affordable education is a
priority and that education is accessible by all.
Yes, one must
have the money to invest in education and they can argue that the
government is doing its best under the circumstances. However, my
view is that it is possible to lower the cost of education in the
country and ensure most have access, through cutting waste and appropriations
for matters of less priority.
Valid reasons
exist and they pertain to social payoffs down the road. An educated
population has higher chances to earn better income and hence improve
the general welfare of the nation.
Crime rates
fall the higher the level of education; participatory democracy
increases, as does health and well-being and life expectancy. Potential
for creativity also goes up with higher education. The overall effect
is contribution to economic growth.
I have a hypothesis
that the high economic growth rates Kenyan realized in the 70s and
80s were mainly due to investment in social programs, education
being the primary one. Moreover, India's economic growth is not
by accident. This has been long in coming and is a direct result
of investment in education.
Lastly, a question:
does the ban on Harambees include fundraising for education purposes?
If so, I would suggest Kenyans raise the ante to ensure the exemption
for fundraising for purposes of education.
Matunda
Nyanchama
Toronto, Canada
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