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Some of the other major reasons why the standard of education has dropped include:
Nursery & Primary Education: At the Nursery and primary school levels, costs are generally minimal at about $33 for each of three terms of the year per student. That makes an average tuition of just $99 per year per student. The duration for nursery and primary levels comes to an average of eleven years. Secondary Education (Rural): In a survey made in Nigeria (December 1998), it costs approximately $60 for each of three terms for a regular student at a rural secondary school (school fees and exercise books). That comes to approximately $180 per year. Secondary education lasts an average of six years. University-level Education: Scholarship into tertiary institutions has also been given much attention in our survey and preparatory enquiries into this subject. Generally, a conservative estimate for the financial support of university-level students is approximately $1000 per student per year - for an average period of 5 years. Scholarship Support: To qualify for a scholarship award, a student must demonstrate that no ordinary family sources are available; that previous academic results attest to a level of seriousness and personal commitment to education. Funds are disbursed from our regional offices directly to the schools concerned. No new funds are to be disbursed until the student has provided the results of the previous term, and the principal has indicated a pre-registration for the new term. The scholarship may be terminated if the student’s performances are considered unsatisfactory over two consecutive terms. [NOTE: The above projections presuppose that the student, while attending school, resides with his/her family or relatives and feeds there, except in the case of university-level students.] |
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Pictures From Africa |
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School Project in Uganda (East Africa) |
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School
Children in Uganda (East Africa)
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During
the last few decades, most countries of Africa have experienced
a rapid declinein educational standards. Political instability in
many regions has led to many young people recruited into the militia
and other fighting forces. The regular images of child soldiers
that punctuate the African landscape frighten even the strong among
us. In some regions, most young people have abandoned education
to go into petty business. In Rwanda, nine year olds are heads of
households; in Nigeria, they are street hawkers; in Sierra Leone,
they are veteran soldiers; in Botswana, they are HIV positive. 
Many
able young people imagine that the years of education at school
are wasted years; that by going into business early enough, they
stand a better chance of climbing the social ladder much faster.
Young boys are especially carried away in this erosion of the mind.
They console themselves by saying that money is the main reason
for education, and since they hope to make more money faster without
education, they would take that option. Besides, they say, beautiful
women seeking to get married are not looking for "educated"
men but for "wealthy" men. (It is a common phenomenon
today to see "successful" businessmen getting married
to highly educated women.)