Distributing "Greetings from Bowman School" Book Bags

On Wednesday we had an official assembly to present the "Greetings from Bowman School" book bags to individual children, and to honor those children whose academic achievements on school-wide exams demonstrated high performance.  As we brought 180 bags and there are approximately 1000 students, teachers decided that there would be a number of categories of performance to determine who would receive our "fabric letters".  Students were chosen based on their academic performance in class and their service to the school.  Prefect (peer leaders), scouts, and athletic performers at all levels received bags as well.

This school year at Sagam Primary is somewhat different from our own.  Although Sagam Primary is getting ready to go on their summer break, this is not the end of the scho

ol year.  Kenyan Schools go from January to December, with their longest break in late November-December.  This time frame corresponds with what is Kenyan summer, or the hottest part of the year.  In August the schools have 3-4 weeks off for summer holidays.  During these summer holidays many Sagam Primary teachers are working to extend their own education.  Teachers, as in Lexington, are engaged in obtaining additional Bachelor's or Master's Degrees in a variety of areas including Special Education and Pyschology.  Teachers often attend Universities in a variety of locations in Kenya (often big cities such as Nairobi or Kisumu) during 

this time.  As with American teachers, when engaged in these intensive three-week classes, teachers often return with additional assignments to complete during the school year.  As internet and computer access is limited assignments must be returned by snail mail!

Students take exams at the end of the school year in November before leaving for break.  The result of these exams in Standard Eight (our grade 8) determine whether or not a child will be eligible to go to secondary school (High School).  For some of our Sagam Primary children the cost of going to secondary school (about $400 a year) will prohibit even the brightest from continuing their education.  This year at Sagam Primary one hard-working, high-performing girl who was admitted to secondary school after exams last year is repeating her standard eight year!  She hopes that the Sagam teachers or community will be able to help her find a sponsor so that she may enroll in secondary school after she takes her exams again in November.  We met an additional six other high performing students in grade eight who are expected to pass the exams but face a similar problem come November!  Sagam Primary teachers express the challenge of this for student motivation.  It is hard to convince some children that they should work hard in school, when the children believe it is likely that they will not be able to continue.  Retaining students in school is a challenge, especially for girls at the upper level.  At the same time, Kate, Karen and I have the greatest admiration for the incredible job that teachers at Sagam Primary School do to motivate even the most vulnerable children, and to work hard each day to insure that every child learns!  

Kudos to the Sagam Primary Teachers!

Mary