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By Obar Mark
Over the years, there has been goodwill and persistence on raising awareness for girl’s retention in school. This endeavour has so far been bearing fruits but in the retrospect, the same society has turned a blind eye to the plight of the boy-child.
Contrary to the long standing notion in the society, extensive analysis by World Bank indicates that Kenyan Boy-child is at a higher risk of dropping out of school than girls. Indeed in the recent past, this hypothesis has been actualized.
In 2005, the trend of more boys dropping out of school became a reality when 620,000 boys and 586,000 girls joined Standard One but by 2010, survival rate in the group had dropped to 558,000 boys and 562,000 girls.
Never before had enrolment of girls in any primary school grade nationally exceeded that of boys. This impedes the achievement of Universal Primary Education which is the Millennium Development Goal, number two that by 2015 ensures that all boys and girls alike complete primary schooling.
It’s however imperative to note that there are backers of Boy-child education in the country. Of course, not enough has been done but some effort has been put towards this great endeavour.
On 10th April, this year, Cabinet Secretary of Education, Professor Jacob Kaimenyi while sitting in for Deputy President William Ruto launched the Rudi Usome Counsellors Network. This is an educational initiative meant to mobile boys to return to school and study. “The ministry has come up with policies and programmes related to EFA and MDGs, which according to the United Nations are expected to be achieved. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has undertaken reforms to improve the education sector with a view to making it globally competitive,” emphasized Kaimenyi.
In an event held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre and graced by Muranga County Women Representative, Sabena Chege, the organization prudently scrutinized the various options available for the country with regards to ensuring that all children are accorded same chances in schools.
It’s been discovered that child labour and poor parenting are among the various factors that lead to Primary School dropouts. “In areas where cash crops are grown the boys drop out of school to engage themselves in this economic activity to support their families. It is with this in mind that I commend the ‘Rudi Usome Organization’ in its effort to empower the Boy Child to make him useful and productive member of the society,” said Kaimenyi while warning parents against exposing children to early jobs.
Many uneducated boys also engage in criminal activities like robbery with violence, drug trafficking as well as prostitution – just to make ends meet. Through the lens of Rudi Usome Counsellors Network’s Chairperson, Susan Gitau who is also a Lecturer of Counselling and Psychology at Nazarene University, a story is told of Alex Kariuki who is a perfect case in point on the plight of Boy-child.
Just like thousands of uneducated boys in Kenya, Alex Kariuki had quit school at the infant stages of his life and joined a criminal gang that operates within Thika Town. While on a mission to sensitize Boys on matters of education at Kianjau Primary School in Kiandutu Slum, Thika Town, the Headteacher of the school told the Rudi Usome team of what Alex had gone through as a young child.
The Rudi Usome Counsellors Network team then decided to look for Alex. Later the Initiative planned another meeting which they asked Alex to attend. Throughout these sessions, Rudi Usome’s Chairperson Susan Gitau repeated her testimony of how people from disadvantaged background should not be a reality for a failed future. In his own words, he motivated himself. "If Susan made it from this slum then I too will make it.”
As hope for hope would have it, Alex Kariuki went back to school and got massive support from the initiative all through to his KCPE examinations. But it’s not only Alex who has been lucky, the school too, got free food for a whole term and the performance was amazing! In His own words "I am special. I have addressed university students, I am destined for greater things," Kariuki on 10th April, 2015, made a powerful speech about going to school and getting Equity scholarship in the presence of Prof. Kaimenyi during the launch of KRCN at KICC amphitheatre.
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