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| The headmaster of Mangu Primary School accepts the school supplies sent from the USA. Each Primary School receives some government funding but it is not enough to meet the needs. Beginning in January 2003, parents no longer pay tuition for Primary school. More children can now attend but the schools struggle even harder to provide the basic materials necessary for education. | This is a typical classroom in Kenya. A teacher has very little to work with. Schools struggle to provide texts and teacher's editions. Many teachers have only a piece of chalk and their notes from teacher's college. Some have purchased their own reference books and materials. The students, as a whole, are disciplined and attentive. With few materials the teacher must provide the information necessary for the student to succeed in the KCPE examination at the end of Standard 8. |
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| Mangu Primary School is built in the typical style for a school in Kenya. The classrooms are built in a U formation with a central courtyard. They are built with stone and later covered with a layer of cement inside and out. The windows and vents are added as funds allow but education begins as soon as the roof is on. The roof is corrugated metal. Masonite ceiling board is often added as a finishing touch. |
The students sit 3-5 in a row at a wooden bench/desk combination. The writing and bench surface is about 6" wide. Each student is provided with a small Exercise Book, similar to an exam Blue Book, of about 60 pages for each subject. They write all the information they will need to pass the exams for the class into their exercise books. There are no handouts, enrichment activities, or website URLs to assist the students with their study. |
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| The students are always happy to greet visitors. Uniforms are expected and must be purchased by the parents. Primary School is divided into 8 years and referred to as Standards 1-8. | Students work hard to perform well in school. They will be given a national exam, KCPE, at the conclusion of Standard 8. Their performance on that exam will determine their educational future. |
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