Shed a Little Light

In your daily life, it is hard to imagine that around the world, more than 115 million children of elementary school-age are not in school.* According to UNICEF, Kenya’s free and compulsory education system has increased gross enrollment rates to over 90% nationally. The UNICEF statistic of 90% enrollment is for grades K-8 only, which is universal. High school, which is grades 9-12, is still not universal and has a graduation rate of approximately 33-35%. The World Bank says about 40% of kids enter 8th grade, but fail to mention how many complete 12th grade.

Poor children still cannot afford to attend school; 9 out of 10 children from poor households fail to complete their basic education. Furthermore, according the the Kenya Education Fund, many people do not realize that high school in developing countries is not free. In Kenya, both public and private high schools cost hundreds of dollars in tuition each year. This means roughly two-thirds of Kenyans - many of them girls - will never complete high school because they are poor.

Today, your class has been chosen to help promote global awareness by hosting a symposium at your school that will examine the difference between reality and the rights guaranteed to all children by The Convention on the Rights of the Child.

As members of this symposium research team, you are to focus on the following essential question:

• Why can't every child go to school?

Your class must gather information which relates to this core question. You will present your compelling research at a sympsiom, held at your school, through the use of video, posters, and brochures.

Additionally, all students will contribute to an "ABC" book that we will publish and sell to raise funds to help a child in Kenya complete his or her education.