The COVID-19 Impact on Education in Kenya
The Kenyan government closed all public and private schools in March. In July, the government ordered schools to remain closed until January 2021. The Minister of Education declared that the 2020 school year was “lost,” and that all students would restart at their current levels next January. Most Kenyan schools have not kept teachers on salary or continued instruction long-distance. There is a real danger all over Kenya that a significant number of children will drop out and never return to school.
JAMS Steps Up
For JAMS students, this year is not being lost. JAMS teachers responded to the closure in March by initiating contact, usually by telephone, with all 167 JAMS students. Teachers are delivering instruction by phone twice weekly to individual students. Students complete their homework and then return it by phone for grading and encouragement from teachers. Those students originally not reachable by phone received in-person visits from teachers who brought assignments on paper and made arrangements for ongoing phone contact.
“The teachers are always ready to help us in any difficulty. The administration understands us because they allow us to speak our mind. . . . As our motto states, ‘together, forward together.’” – J., Class of 2022
JAMS students are poor and many are orphans living with grandparents, aunts, uncles, or neighbors. They do not have computers or internet at home. These girls are vulnerable to poverty, hunger, illness, and hopelessness. The support from teachers is crucial for protecting the JAMS girls and encouraging them to keep learning and to return to JAMS in January. Weekly wellness checks by teachers mean that we can identify and respond to students’ urgent needs.
“I mostly appreciate my teachers because they always understand students and provide good care and also good advice.” – R., Class of 2021
In addition, some students’ families do not have phones and/or cannot afford the amount of airtime required to receive and send assignments. These JAMS students communicate with JAMS teachers through the phones of village chiefs, relatives, and neighbors. JAMS is purchasing phones and airtime for these students in financial need.
The Financial Impact
The tuition and fees that scholarship sponsors and parents have already paid for 2020 will be used to pay for the students’ education in 2021. However, JAMS needs funds now to cover the expenses of maintaining instruction for the students and keeping the campus functioning and safe during 2020.
Please help JAMS pay teachers and buy phones and airtime for students in need. Learn how you can help HERE.
Learn more about how JAMS is maintaining the campus and helping its community HERE.
Want to Encourage JAMS Students and Staff?
Knowing that others care about them will motivate our students to stay engaged in learning long distance. Knowing that others appreciate the important work they are doing will encourage the JAMS teachers and the campus staff.
Please send supportive messages to the JAMS students, teachers, and support staff by posting to the JAMS Facebook page HERE. Or send your brief message (a few sentences) of encouragement to Friends@JAMSKenya.org. We will forward your messages to JAMS.
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