Education in Sudan and Kenya

Georgia Performance Standards

• SS7CG3 The student will analyze how politics in Africa impacts standard of living.

• a. Compare how various factors, including gender, affect access to education in Kenya and Sudan.

Essential Question • What things can affect if people can

get an education and the quality of that education in Kenya and Sudan?

Picture of a classroom in Kenya-what differences do you see?

Picture of a school in Darfur (Sudan)

Facts about education in Kenya and Sudan

• http://www.nationmaster.com/country/ke-kenya/edu-education

• http://www.nationmaster.com/country/su-sudan/edu-education

Sudan • Biggest problem for education: years of civil war • The UN estimates that 75% of children in southern

Sudan (including Darfur) have no access to education • National literacy rate about 61%, but 72% for boys

and 50% for girls • 2/3 of available $$ (which isn’t much) goes to boys’

education, leaving only 1/3 to girls’ education • Christian schools started by missionaries have been

closed by the government and Muslim schools have been opened in their place, which will have a greater impact on female education.

In Sudan, nearly a fifth of young girls aged 15-24 are unable to read and write.

Sudan • Where there is access to education

(mainly in the cities), girls usually leave school at age 10 because many feel they only need to be trained in domestic skills.

• Parents of Sudanese girls thought that schools would corrupt the morals of their daughters

• Many girls who are allowed to go to school, mainly study the Quran.

Kenya • Kenya’s government has made

education a priority, spending 7% of their national budget on education

• Elementary school is free • About 85% of kids go to elementary

school, but only 24% go to high school and a mere 2% go to college

• National literacy rate about 85%-91% for boys and 79% for girls

Kenya • School attendance is much higher in the

cities • In rural areas, teachers struggle to

convince parents that education is important for girls-they still feel that girls don’t need an education, only need to prepare for marriage.

• Early marriages are common as they bring a dowry (money or gifts given by the bride’s family) to the groom’s family

• AIDS is a problem for education in both Kenya and Sudan because of the high number of orphans

Questions 1. How do the literacy rate for boys and

girls compare in Kenya and Sudan?

A. Literacy rate for girls are higher

B. Literacy rate for boys are higher

C. There is no difference

D. Literacy rates are no reported by gender

Questions 1. How do the literacy rate for boys and

girls compare in Kenya and Sudan?

A. Literacy rate for girls are higher

B. Literacy rate for boys are higher

C. There is no difference

D. Literacy rates are no reported by gender

Questions 2. Why is that happening? A. Very few schools have been opened for

girls in either country B. Girls have shown they cannot do

schoolwork as easily as boys C. Most girls in these countries have no

interest in going to school D. Traditional views say that girls should

be married rather than educated

Questions 2. Why is that happening? A. Very few schools have been opened for

girls in either country B. Girls have shown they cannot do

schoolwork as easily as boys C. Most girls in these countries have no

interest in going to school D. Traditional views say that girls

should be married rather than educated

Questions 3. What is one factor that has caused the

Republic of Sudan to pay less attention to education?

A. Civil war

B. Lack of interest

C. Education system needs improvement

D. No education beyond elementary school

Questions 3. What is one factor that has caused the

Republic of Sudan to pay less attention to education?

A. Civil war

B. Lack of interest

C. Education system needs improvement

D. No education beyond elementary school

Questions 4. Many of the girls that do go to school

in the Republic of Sudan are only allowed to study what subjects?

A. Military subjects

B. Religious subjects

C. Housekeeping kills

D. Languages and reading

Questions 4. Many of the girls that do go to school

in the Republic of Sudan are only allowed to study what subjects?

A. Military subjects

B. Religious subjects

C. Housekeeping kills

D. Languages and reading

Assignment Write whether these issues affect

Sudan, Kenya, or both

1. Shrinking education budget

2. Boys have a higher priority

3. Civil war disrupted schooling

4. AIDS orphans

5. Girls working at home, preparing for marriage

6. Christian schools closed

Assignment-Answers Write whether these issues affect

Sudan, Kenya, or both

1. Shrinking education budget Sudan

2. Boys have a higher priority Both

3. Civil war disrupted schooling Sudan

4. AIDS orphans Both

5. Girls working at home, preparing for marriage Both

6. Christian schools closed Sudan