MM Kenya Education Policy Moving Mountains Kenya requests that all sponsors read and understand the principles by which we operate, and that they and their parents or guardians agree to the conditions. Grades and Levels for Sponsorship

The minimum mark for the annual continuation of sponsorship at Primary School level is 300.

The minimum marks for sponsorship of a Secondary school student are 350 at KCPE.

The minimum mark for a student to be sponsored through College is C- at KCSE.

The minimum mark for a student to be sponsored through University is B at KCSE, and positions for parallel University places are not considered.

Students falling below the levels mentioned above during any one term will be put on one terms notice for the suspension of sponsorship. A follow-up will be done by our in-house counselling team regarding behaviour, local environment and situation, and above all attitude towards school. We reserve the right to cancel any sponsorship programme if the Executive Committee votes in such a way, following a clear and transparent process of investigation and follow-up.

We will always recommend Government Schools above private schools and Government recognised Colleges for any sponsorship programme.

Any MM staff interested in joining college for further studies and development must put in an application and an interview is done for the course to be accepted and an agreement made in relation to the sponsorship.

Students Responsibilities

Opening and closing days of schools should be punctually observed and attendance in school is mandatory, and absenteeism is not acceptable.

Discipline in and out of school is necessary, good behaviour is mandatory.

Report forms should be handed to the office at the end of every term for discussion and filing.

Drug abuse is not acceptable and will lead to expulsion from the sponsorship programme.

Holiday tuitions, school trips and excursions should be attended and without absenteeism.

Pocket money and bus fare should be receipted, spent wisely and properly.

College courses must be completed in full.

Exams must be attended and the results forwarded to the office.

Parents or Guardians Responsibilities

Breakage and loss of books or equipment are the guardian and parent’s responsibility

Visiting days and education clinics must be attended by parents and/or guardians

Medical cases should be directed to Government hospitals and clinics, not private hospitals

If a child drops out of school, the total amount of fees paid for that term will be paid back to the charity

Moving Mountains Responsibilities

To pay for the school fees on time by cheque and to maintain a file on each beneficiary detailing all financial payments made, report cards, notes from meetings or counselling sessions and any other relevant information which is freely available for viewing by the child’s parent or guardian.

Help with obtaining or providing attachments where possible.

Make random checks on students during term time and provide a strong and caring environment of support for everyone.

Why do we Provide Educational Support?

Reasons Financial poverty – no money for fees

Emotional poverty – no love or support at home, no community support

Resource poverty – no books or uniforms, far from school

Role To provide money for fees, books and uniforms

To provide emotional support and counselling to child

To provide support to family and sense of responsibility to the child

Advice and counselling about prejudice, future aims, self-respect

Inspire the children to aim high and have big dreams by being a role model

Encourage interaction between visitors and beneficiaries to promote the

idea of ‘you can do anything you wish’

Ethos We don’t just give money for fees

We provide a family support structure which encourages all members

We provide continual support throughout education, as long as the child

maintains a level of performance and the parents maintain a level of interest

What Environment do we provide?

Reasons Lack of resources in school – for example books, equipment

Lack of encouragement and discipline at home

Lack of positive peer to peer environment for self-improvement

Lack of interest among the teachers

Role To be an addition to the childs life – trusted and respected

To be an addition to the family – there for advice and support

To be a supplement to schools – helping to provide a better environment

To be an encouraging influence on teachers

Ethos We don’t just give money for school fees

We work with selected schools to help them develop their environment and

improve teacher morale

We try to provide morale boosting events for teachers if possible

We work with the authorities, the local committees and the teachers and

parents to help improve the environment in a fair and clear way

We look at assisting the Kenyan Govt in achieving its aims for education in

any one area

We work with the family to help teach values which are positive, and will

help develop the child to aim high and dream big, as well as encourage the

family to see their child as an asset and not a burden, and challenge

prejudice

How do we vet and monitor and channel a child in the right way?

Reasons It is very expensive to maintain school fees throughout ten or more years

Children show different talents and interests

Some parents and communities are more supportive than others

Any support must not discriminate, but be realistic to the needs and

abilities of the child

Private schooling is too expensive, and Govt high schools are good but

teacher morale can be low in primary schools

Role To provide a careful professional vetting procedure for all children

To work with fewer children but in a better more structured and holistic way

To monitor continually – not only academic performance but also emotional

stability, family interest, teacher morale, school resources, child interests

To allow the child to develop in his or her own way and provide advice for

the best direction in school and in life. This may be academic or vocational or

neither.

How do we provide morale?

Reasons Teachers often on low salaries, large classes, lots of stress, little

encouragement and no much career training

Role To take an interest in the teachers and the schools and be a supplementary

‘figure’ in the school environment

To provide annual holidays for the teachers, maybe a weekend safari

To help provide additional school resources through the visitors and

students

To develop a special relationship with each school we work with so that

the teachers see MM as a source of inspiration and help

Ethos MM is more than just a charity providing money for fees, it is an organisation

that looks at the whole picture of education – schools, teachers, families,

communities and authorities.

MM is a welfare organisation that acts in harmony with the schools so that

we take into consideration the welfare of the staff, as well as the welfare of

the children and their families. In some sense we are a bridge between child

and family and school and community, a ‘glue’ that acts for everyone and on

behalf of the rights of the child.