Primary school in Narobi, Kenya

Josephine Anyiko went to Primary school in Narobi, Kenya before coming to Ireland. Here she tells us about school in Kenya.

“Primary Education quite different in Ireland compared to Kenya, it was a privilege for me to go to a primary school in Kenya. School fees were to be paid, different amount for different terms. Our first term was most expensive because we had to buy books, uniforms, shoes etc. third term was the cheapest.

Going to primary school in Kenya was a privilege, you had to be comfortably well off or financially rich to take your child to a primary school. It’s quite expensive for Kenyans to go to school. Transport getting to school and back home again was difficult because of poor roads, if the heavy rains come, muddy roads become impassable. Some children walked long distance.

In Kenya a school year was divided into three terms, 1st term January to March, 2nd term May to July, and 3rd term September to November. We closed for the month of April due to the rainy season, August and December for holidays. Each January you move to another grade.

Primary school in Kenya lasts eight years before you go to secondary school. You start in Pre-unit at age of 6 years. You move until you finish class eight at age of 15 years. Then you are able to go to Secondary school. Secondary school in Ireland is very different to Kenya secondary school. In Kenya Secondary school lasts for four years rather than the 5 or 6 years in Ireland.

During my Kenyan primary school days I witnessed a lot of punishment beatings with a bamboo stick. This would happen to students who came to school late, if homework was not done, or if you were rude to a teacher. I was often scared, but like most things I got used to it. I don't think it did me any harm.”

Kitengela Primary School, Kenya

We've all seen the images on the Trocaire boxes; the melancholic advertisements on our television screens 'disrupting' our viewing, and the celebrities like Bob Geldof and Bono campaigning against Famine and Drought. To be honest, it was with these images and a feeling of guilt that I volunteered to teach primary school children in Kenya. With these feelings I arrived in Kitengela Primary school. What all these images fail to capture however is the fun, vitality and youth of Kenya. The looks of amusement when I turned around from the blackboard having set an essay title, or the apprehension displayed as they knawed their pencils during a maths test or the friendly greetings of Mzungu' from the locals.

Nowadays, I don't look at the Trocaire boxes with pity but with optimism.

Mike Mc Donald is a medical student a U.C.D.