"Nazarene kids aren't fed the entire day."
"What's Nazarene?"
"You know, kindergarten."
"No it's Nazarene." Then in response to my confused look, "Let me type it."
N-u-r-s-e-r-y
Oh now that makes a lot more sense! How many times had I heard that said and thought people were saying Nazarene? It always confused me but I just figured a religious term was used for kindergarten. Maybe I am having some trouble with the accents here and I didn't even realize it!
In Kenya there are 3 years of kindergarten (so our 2 years of preschool and 1 year of kindergarten). Kindergarten is included in primary school in addition to classes 1 to 8. Next is secondary school with classes 9 to 12. In 8th grade students take a placement test called the KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education) to determine what secondary school they'll go to. Those with the highest scores go to the national schools.
In the head teachers' offices there are no computers or laminated posters or framed paintings. Cell phones take the place of calculators and hand written class schedules hang on the walls. Past student enrollment is written on chalkboards and piles of browning paper hold old records. Every front office without fail has a visitors book and signing it is almost a tradition. What the schools lack in recent technology, the teachers make up for in dedication and enthusiasm. They all have a desire to improve their schools and help their students reach their highest potential.
We visited three schools in a severely drought stricken area to assess them for feeding programs but found out they'd all been given porridge by the Red Cross. The following are photographs from the schools: