Early Language Experiences and School Success

Most Kenyan parents continue to place a high value on
education for both boys and girls, believing that
education will increase economic opportunities for
their children as well as enable them to better serve
and build their communities.
But despite new opportunities created by
the changing political climate and subsequent changes
in educational policies, many challenges still exist,
particularly for families living in rural areas. The
achievement gap between urban and rural children is
evident in the score reports from the primary school
exit exam . Communities are largely
responsible for providing facilities, operational
expenses, teaching equipment, teaching and learning
materials, and numerous indirect expenses such as
uniforms, transportation, and meals. Given the
poverty rates among rural Kenyan families, making the
most of the new educational opportunities has been
impeded by lack of economic opportunity, community
infrastructure, and human resources. Additional
obstacles are rooted in changes in family structure,
the impact of HIV/AIDS on the Kenyan population, and
the increasing number of parents working in urban
areas farther away from their children.

Autorentext

An Associate Professor of Education at Northern Illinois University teaching courses in early childhood education. My research interests include enhancing literacy through comprehensive community development, equitable assessment for children, and developmentally and culturally responsive curriculum in pluralistic communities.

Klappentext

Most Kenyan parents continue to place a high value oneducation for both boys and girls, believing thateducation will increase economic opportunities fortheir children as well as enable them to better serveand build their communities. But despite new opportunities created bythe changing political climate and subsequent changesin educational policies, many challenges still exist,particularly for families living in rural areas. Theachievement gap between urban and rural children isevident in the score reports from the primary schoolexit exam . Communities are largelyresponsible for providing facilities, operationalexpenses, teaching equipment, teaching and learningmaterials, and numerous indirect expenses such asuniforms, transportation, and meals. Given thepoverty rates among rural Kenyan families, making themost of the new educational opportunities has beenimpeded by lack of economic opportunity, communityinfrastructure, and human resources. Additionalobstacles are rooted in changes in family structure,the impact of HIV/AIDS on the Kenyan population, andthe increasing number of parents working in urbanareas farther away from their children.