For too many children, education has been a casualty of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Millions of children face enormous obstacles to schooling. In families where one or both parents are chronically ill or have died, there is often little money to pay for school and other education related expenses. HIV-associated illnesses often increase family health care expenses while inhibiting the ability to earn an income. By end of 2010 the programme was supporting 2440 students. 73.3% were in high school, 19.6% were in middle level colleges while 7.1% were in universities.
Although there is access to free primary education in Kenya many children, especially young girls, are often required to care for sick family members. In addition the grief a child experiences in anticipating or seeing their parents die inhibits a child’s ability to concentrate on learning, even if able to attend school. However, with the access to the scholarship and encouragement from guidance and counseling teachers in most schools more girls have been able to access education. At the end of 2010 40.2% of the beneficiaries were female with 31% in high schools.
The scholarship provides education support for students in tertiary level institutions thus equipping them with skills for employment. This will hopefully provide them with skills to find employment either formal or informal. Once employed or engaged in income generating activities the beneficiaries should be able to provide the necessary support to their siblings or other family members. Currently, we have a deaf student undertaking a carpentry course at a technical college.
In Kenya, there is very minimal social welfare activity supported by the government or government institutions. Due to the financial burden imposed by HIV/AIDs and related diseases most families are stripped off all their savings/wealth and have to rely on well wishers. Unfortunately this help is not always forthcoming and this scholarship goes a long way in alleviating the suffering that most beneficiaries would otherwise undergo. In addition, where the scholarship beneficiaries have found employment this has gone a long way in ensuring that their families at least have the basic necessities of food and shelter. The program offers secondary support to all the beneficiaries through provision of accommodation and stipend. This has contributed to the extended family support system that is already burdened.
By providing much needed schooling assistance, the scholarship has greatly contributed to the Kenya Education Support Program on access, retention and quality education. It has also contributed to the government’s goal of eliminating ignorance and improving literacy levels.
Beneficiaries are provided with full scholarships covering the level of education they are enrolled in. This ensures access, and retention to completion which is in line with Vision 2030.
Raising the level of transition rates has been identified as one of the milestones in meeting the education requirements of Vision 2030. The high cost of secondary education was identified as one of the main challenges in meeting this objective. The USAID OVC scholarship Program is contributing towards meeting this challenge as 68% of beneficiaries are enrolled in secondary schools.
26% of the beneficiaries of the scholarship are enrolled in universities thus contributing towards vision 2030 strategy to expand access and equity to education which has identified the high cost of university as limiting access to public universities.
The scholarship program is supporting orphans and vulnerable children in line with Vision 2030 for Gender, Youth and Vulnerable groups.
Another benefit that is not always obvious but is evident from the testimonials received from many of the students is that schooling support has greatly improved the morale and self confidence of many of the beneficiaries. Many of the beneficiaries feel cared for and at least have a sense of hope. Through conversing/communicating with the USAID Kenya Education officials and the scholarship administrators most of the students have expressed their gratitude for the concern and care they feel that they have received. A number of beneficiaries have expressed their gratitude in writing.
It is hoped that this scholarship will encourage other institutions, organizations or individuals to offer education assistance. Although these may not be directly identifiable, a lot of individuals and even some of the beneficiaries are more aware of the need to assist and give back to society by providing education assistance and providing other skills for life.
Schooling remains an essential element of a robust individual and societal future, and partnerships with the education sector provide important opportunities to fight against the pandemic. The United States Government (USG) supports efforts to address the interface between the education sector and HIV/AIDS through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR supports programs in schools that offer important prevention education for youth, as well as working to ensure that children who are orphaned or vulnerable as a result of HIV and AIDS can benefit from schooling.
In addition, the USAID Kenya Education Office continues to liaise with all stakeholders in the Education sector to leverage all synergies and other economies of scale that would promote the schooling and education of OVCs.
In the year 2009, 729 scholarship beneficiaries sat the KCSE examination. 5 beneficiaries scored grade As, 15 attained A minuses and 248 students scored grade C+ and above, qualifying for university admission.
