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Education System

In terms of the education system – I am still reading up on this – in 2003, the government put in a change where primary education (2 years of kindergarten and 8 years elementary) were going to be provided for all children. It is part of the Children’s Education Act that got put into place in 2001. Before, if you could not afford education, you did not get it. They basically use the British system here. This is fantastic, but it have now put a huge strain on the secondary system – as there a lot more children graduating into high school and not enough resources – they need more schools. I have been told to expect a class of as high as 50 students. Teachers are not well paid here in Kenya. A huge portion of the population still lives on less then a dollar a day. The average salary is 1500 to 3000 shillings a month. In general, it is about 50-65 shillings to the Canadian dollar. So, it is still a very poor country. But as I said in my earlier e-mail – you don’t get that sense from the people – most likely because this is all they know – but there is happiness in the people and a huge sense of decorum. They are very polite – always introduce themselves. If I say “hi” they reply “fine, thank you” as if I have asked them how they are. The children are adorable – some of them very shy, but others so approachable. They wave and smile at me when they see me. I can’t wait to get teaching! It seems I will be teaching English and working with the Department Head. I have still yet to see a syllabus or curriculum –hope to get this, this week … so planning lessons is a bit tricky! All the children wear uniforms to school – usually a nice bright colour. I have seen girls in blue or purple pinafores … boys in green or red jerseys. Some of the schools are same sex, some are mixed. On the bus ride up from Nairobi – I passed many schools – or at least signs for them. So… the schools are there …. but depending on the region, the quality of teacher will vary – as I said, they don’t get paid very well here. However, my hosts, who grew up in the system, say that in the cities or peri-urban schools the education is exemplary with very high standards. When I explained to them some of the routines in our schools, the “no child left behind” policies… they said that it would be unheard of a child not doing their homework or handing in an assignment late etc… it just is not done. If a child does hand in an assignment late, they would be given another one to do as well – I will know more of this once I get started. I asked about integration – ie. For special education students, students with disabilities and they said that for the most part they would go to separate schools – I am sure this varies depending on the region. According to the document, there are many assessed children with needs who stay at home and don’t go to school – this may be more prevalent in the poorer regions. Many children however don’t go to school for various reasons. There are huge challenges in the rural areas or areas where nomadic tribes live. The document I am reading talks about Non-Formal Education opportunities run by NGO’s in the country. These are trying to target life skills for at risk children of which there are many. I hopefully will get a chance to view some of these programs at the orphanages that I would like to visit. Also – there is huge emphasis on balancing out gender issues with regards to education. In the formal system it is being addressed, but yet again… in various regions, there is sure to exist disparity in the percentage of girls getting education. I also asked, in light of the fact that the cell phone is VERY popular here (it is quite cheap in comparison to the plans in Canada – phones can be very expensive, but you can also get ones for very cheap – but the actual phone plans are very inexpensive – having said that.. I highly doubt anyone in the shambas/rural areas would have one) but anyway, I asked what the policy was about phones in schools etc… and they said it would be unheard of a child using their phone in school. They just would not do it – and if they did, it would be confiscated. I get the sense that the teacher is very much boss in their system. They have clubs after school – so I hope to get involved in some of them. But they have very limited resources – they use copy books and pencils. At Maseno University – the kids had computers in their rooms, but they were all using copy books to study – not binders with three ringed paper and I did not see too many printers in sight – though I am sure they can print things off at the IT centre. My hosts explained that students are very serious about their studies when they get to University as it is very hard to get in – high competition – and very expensive for many of them to attend. The student who gave me a tour on the weekend – was the only person in his family to have attended university – and you can be sure that his parents saved greatly to put him there. I asked about scholarships – and he said you could only apply for them once you had an undergraduate degree and they were awarded to people who had extremely high marks. In order to become a full fledged professor here – you obviously need a PHD which takes MANY years (it takes up to four years to get your Masters – very rare to get it in two) , then you need to teach for many years before you can even apply to become a professor and only if a position becomes available – so I guess that bit is similar to here. The student said that many of the professors have gone overseas to do post-doctoral work in the meantime.

So – overall –it seems that a lot is being done to improve the education system here in Kenya and the pre-service training for teachers. However, many obstacles still exist. My hosts have explained that corruption is high in the country – so not all funds targeted by the government for various things get to their final destination. A prime example would be the roads! :>

The ants

Other wildlife spottings: I forgot to mention to you the other little creature that I have encountered – that of the safari ant or “army ant” – these little guys were the reason the phrase “ants in your pants” was created. There is a strong path of these ants running from the public toilets beside where we eat across the main path. They were specifically pointed out to me by my hosts so that I would give them a nice wide berth. If these guys get up your pant leg, you will know it – painful bites and the only way to get them off you is to strip off your pants and to pluck them out one by one – often with their pincers staying in your skin! Some of the members of various tribes have used the pincers as sutures… that is how strong they are… Needless to say – I have kept a wide, healthy respectful distance around these suckers. My hosts have suggested that perhaps I need to “experience” them to really understand what they are talking about… I have begged to differ …. :> They get swept away on a daily basis, but have returned by end of day… it really is remarkable and they can make short work of the meat on a bone. The trail is a good inch to inch and a half wide.

More pics from boat ride

Other impressions of Kisumu

Other impressions of Kisumu…. Found out that I am pretty lucky to have running water where I am… the Resort uses their own well. In town, not many people have running water as the pipes are too small and they can’t keep up with capacity. They are in the middle of trying to replace the pipes. Most of the big businesses, restaurants have water reservoirs that they fill up. Definitely, in the shambas out in the country… they would have neither running water or electricity. Along the side of the roads you see many people walking with water jugs on their heads or they have them strapped to the backs of their bikes. On Sunday, when we went for our boat tour on the Lake, I saw a lot of the locals washing their clothes or themselves in the Lake. The Lake is incredibly polluted so that is a risky thing to do. You can also catch nasty things from the snails along the shore – something I read about AFTER commenting on the lovely snails on the way to the boat :> thankfully, I did not say – gee how lovely and pick one up! My host told me that when she was growing up the Lake was very clean – they used to waterski, sail, swim. There is a yacht club on the shore – and she said they used to do all their water sports there. We were on the lookout for hippos – as they live in these waters – but unfortunately did not see any. They have been known to come up and graze on the shore of where I am staying – so cross your fingers that I get to see one! The green plant you see in the pictures is the Hyacinth …. it looks lovely, but actually has become a menace to Lake Victoria. The government has somewhat gotten it under control – but at its pinnacle, it prevented major boats from getting in and out of the port. In the bay where I am living, often in the morning the bay is completely clear – in a few hours it will be filled with hyacinth. Take a look at the before and after pictures of our boat ride. It was difficult for the boat to get back to the jetty after our two hour ride. Supposedly, it is illegal to pick the purple flower from the plant – as it is like a weed, and can be easily spread. A few times since I have been here, we have had blackouts – especially around dinner time when the draw on the power is the greatest. On Sunday we had a scheduled blackout from 7am to 7pm. The hotel/resort has a staff of about twenty – kitchen, grounds, driver. It is pretty typical, even for people in the country, to employ help. I must admit it has taken me a bit of time to get used to it … because it feels different then just being at a restaurant. They do everything for you. Someone will do my laundry by hand … though I have done a fair bit of it myself as I just feel funny about it – but on the other hand, you don’t want to offend by not allowing them to do their job – so I must find a balance. I think they count themselves pretty lucky to have a constant job. They live on the resort, mainly near the entrance in shanties – they are wonderfully nice people. Their kids stand on the road and smilingly wave at you every time you leave for town. There are about twenty dogs on the property – all pets, well treated… but if you did not like dogs, you would have a hard time…. as they like to rough house and jump up on you. One morning I was completely surrounded :> it was pretty funny … though impossible to walk as they were all jumping on me! I was rescued by one of the staff… They all have names and are really quite lovely. Foxy is my favourite – she looks just like one! And one of the staff has a horse that just wanders around munching the grass. Every once in awhile, people will arrive with a camel :> for camel rides … but I have yet to partake. The resort is a popular hangout for people on the weekends who come to eat and hang out in the bandas – the covered patios that dot the shoreline.

More pics of Maseno

Trip to Maseno University

Here I am posting some pics from Maseno University where I participated in an I Choose Life program on the weekend. You will see the differences! The neat thing about the University is that it is right on the Equator – Zero Degrees – the Equator runs right through campus. I hope to be partaking in more of these activities over the month. The organization, who mainly works at the moment with the universities, is hoping to spread the program into high schools in the very near future. Nyamasaria school, where I will be working, is one of their target schools. HIV is still a major problem here in Kenya though my hosts and the students I spoke to said the tide is starting to turn. One student told me that in addition to people being educated in how it is transmitted, they are starting to change their view on women – ie. They are getting better educated The city has several orphanages where street boys live – my hosts explained to me that these kids are often just abandoned, left in dumpters, or have had parents die from AIDS. There is an organization here called TEMPKA or TEMKA – sorry, can’t remember the acronym – helping young female teenagers who get pregnant. The girls are shown how to create crafts, they weave their own cloth and make wonderful clothes, wood carvings – and they get sold in booths around the city with the money going to help them – I am planning to visit some of these booths.

More pics

Here you will see some apartments outside of town, the local dump - very near the apartments and right beside one of the malls! My ride in the Tuk Tuk.

Pictures of My Home

Hi there,

Here are some pics of my cottage and the place where I am staying. We are right on the shore of Lake Victoria - it gets very humid at night and the bugs come out to play. Long sleeves and pants a must. I have to spray my room every night and sleep under a net - if malaria does not get me, I think the insecticide will... you can't win! The birds squawk, the dogs howl, the frogs sing ... a bit difficult to get quality sleep, but I am sure I will settle in at some point.... I'm getting a feel for the type of schoool I will be teaching in... it will certainly be very different from at home. I'm still getting a sense of things... but the paradox here is that... visually things look very poor - ie. the shanties, the kiosks - but inside those shanties are regular little boutiques - my hosts have told me I will see the whole range here - the poorest of the poor right up to well off. Kisumu is certainly a biggish town. I am trying to think of what to compare it to... perhaps an Orillia, or small Ontario town... one big main street, tons of street vendors, lots of banks, a couple of two big supermarkets - a la Wal Mart style - so I can get everything here. Modes of transport are car, Matatu (small van), bike taxis, Tuk Tuk's smart car type taxis, but not as stable :>, regular car taxis. Some market places -have not ventured there yet... butbasically it really is a town with everything. Out in the rural areas - now that is a different story. You see lots of huts like the pic you will see below - similar to my cottage, but probably a bit less solidly built, tin shanties and lean-to's. But there is a properness here - people are dressed very nicely - ladies in bright colours, men in trousers and shirts, the little girssl in frilly pretty dresses. some kids are definitely in bare feet, most wear flip flops.

Pictures of tea plantation in Kerichu and Sugar Cane plantations near Kisumu

More pics

OK - will try to post some better pictures!

Ha ha... ok, that was the picture of the toilet in my hotel room... not the most amazing I know... but on my memory stick the pics are unlabelled as of yet .... I have a ton more .... I will post some more tomorrow when I have them labelled and I know what I am doing! Lost of interesting images of sugar cane, tea plantations, the shops alongside the road and the countryside. The journey was an over eight hours and for long stretches was like a ride at the Central Ex! Believe me, you will never complain about potholes in TO again after a trip on this bus... :> MAJOR potholes all over the road. I was amazed by the driver. My Hyundai would be shot after one hour on this road... buses, cars, bikes, people all over the place.

I should go... my host is waiting for me. But I will post some great shots very soon.
Take care,
Jen

Pictures from the journey

Here are some pictures from the journey. A lot were taken from the road trip from Nairobi to Kisumu. I am new to the blog - so learning my way around... I'll try to post comments with the pics.