What happens after high school graduation? This is the biggest question on the minds of many young adults across Kenya. For those starting their national exams this week, there is a mix of apprehension and hope. This is especially true among the urban poor and students living in the informal settlements and slums.
Graduating from high school is itself a major achievement. In Nairobi, the transition rate from 8th grade to high school is only around 50%. University enrollment nation-wide is limited to roughly 4 percent.
Kenya is a regional leader and has the largest university education system in Eastern Africa, including some of the top business and medical schools in Africa. Over the past ten years there has been a proliferation of public and private colleges as well as vocational, technical, and trade schools. Today, high school graduates have many options for furthering their education. . .but such opportunity is often beyond the reach of the poor.
Immediately after high school, students return home and prepare for the holidays. They have just come through a rigorous series of exams and are eager to rest, spend time with family, and connect with friends.
These young adults are now in a period of waiting. Most will not seriously consider their next move until the results from the national exams are released. After celebrating the New Year, it will be another three months until they know how they performed.
Students who score a B+ or higher on the national exam qualify for student loans through the Higher Education Loan Board – for them a further education is almost guaranteed. This is what all graduates are hoping for, but only a small fraction will achieve
A score of C+ or B is the Minimum entry requirement to most universities. Students who make this cutoff are eligible to continue their education provided that they can meet the costs of up to $3,000 per year. For others, there is the possibility of trade or vocational school or a bridging program.
For students from humble backgrounds, however, further education may not be feasible.
Some graduates will help their parents or relatives in their workplaces. They may look for casual jobs providing labor for construction, doing laundry or selling fruits and vegetables. Others may stay at home to watch their younger siblings, volunteer or spend time at church, visit with friends, or practice soccer. A few may just hang out at the bus stops, hoping to earn some coins directing passengers or praying that opportunity might meet them there. . .
Many of the sponsored students at Akiba are expected to be the first in their families to graduate high school. These students face extra pressures from parents and siblings who expect them to become breadwinners and providers. It is hoped that these graduates can move beyond the informal economy of the slums and access white collar jobs. But it is not so easy. . .
Unemployment is very high in Kenya and is one of the biggest challenges affecting youth. For 19-22 year old females in Nairobi, unemployment is around 90%.
Students growing up in the informal settlements have watched many of their peers drop out of school. They’ve seen friends engage in crime and drug abuse, succumb to disease and violence, or develop a teenage pregnancy with no father in sight.
To persist through many of the challenges of growing up in the slums while pursuing education is laudable. To graduate from high school is a massive achievement. But the waiting period and transition after high school is especially challenging. So, what can be done? Find out here.
(Above: Akiba students visit Strathmore University)