Education in Sudan and Kenya

Education in Sudan and Kenya

Georgia Performance Standards • SS7CG3 The student will analyze how politics in Africa impacts standard of living. • a. Compare how various factors, including gender, affect access to education in Kenya and Sudan.

Essential Question • What things can affect if people can get an education and the quality of that education in Kenya and Sudan?

Picture of a classroom in Kenya-what differences do you see?

Picture of a school in Darfur (Sudan)

Facts about education in Kenya and Sudan • http://www.nationmaster.com/country/ke-kenya/edu-education • http://www.nationmaster.com/country/su-sudan/edu-education

Sudan • Biggest problem for education: years of civil war • The UN estimates that 75% of children in southern Sudan (including Darfur) have no access to education • National literacy rate about 61%, but 72% for boys and 50% for girls • 2/3 of available $$ (which isn’t much) goes to boys’ education, leaving only 1/3 to girls’ education • Christian schools started by missionaries have been closed by the government and Muslim schools have been opened in their place, which will have a greater impact on female education.

In Sudan, nearly a fifth of young girls aged 15-24 are unable to read and write.

Sudan • Where there is access to education (mainly in the cities), girls usually leave school at age 10 because many feel they only need to be trained in domestic skills. • Parents of Sudanese girls thought that schools would corrupt the morals of their daughters • Many girls who are allowed to go to school, mainly study the Quran.

Kenya • Kenya’s government has made education a priority, spending 7% of their national budget on education • Elementary school is free • About 85% of kids go to elementary school, but only 24% go to high school and a mere 2% go to college • National literacy rate about 85%-91% for boys and 79% for girls

Kenya • School attendance is much higher in the cities • In rural areas, teachers struggle to convince parents that education is important for girls-they still feel that girls don’t need an education, only need to prepare for marriage. • Early marriages are common as they bring a dowry (money or gifts given by the bride’s family) to the groom’s family • AIDS is a problem for education in both Kenya and Sudan because of the high number of orphans

Questions • How do the literacy rate for boys and girls compare in Kenya and Sudan? • Literacy rate for girls are higher • Literacy rate for boys are higher • There is no difference • Literacy rates are no reported by gender

Questions 2. Why is that happening? • Very few schools have been opened for girls in either country • Girls have shown they cannot do schoolwork as easily as boys • Most girls in these countries have no interest in going to school • Traditional views say that girls should be married rather than educated

Questions 3. What is one factor that has caused the Republic of Sudan to pay less attention to education? • Civil war • Lack of interest • Education system needs improvement • No education beyond elementary school

Questions 4. Many of the girls that do go to school in the Republic of Sudan are only allowed to study what subjects? • Military subjects • Religious subjects • Housekeeping kills • Languages and reading

Questions 4. Many of the girls that do go to school in the Republic of Sudan are only allowed to study what subjects? • Military subjects • Religious subjects • Housekeeping skills • Languages and reading

Assignment Write whether these issues affect Sudan, Kenya, or both • Shrinking education budget • Boys have a higher priority • Civil war disrupted schooling • AIDS orphans • Girls working at home, preparing for marriage • Christian schools closed

Assignment-Answers Write whether these issues affect Sudan, Kenya, or both • Shrinking education budget Sudan • Boys have a higher priority Both • Civil war disrupted schooling Sudan • AIDS orphans Both • Girls working at home, preparing for marriage Both • Christian schools closed Sudan

Education in Sudan and Kenya