Keeping Children in School

Across sub-Saharan Africa, the costs of getting a child through primary school often represents more than one-quarter of the annual income of a poor household. In many African countries going to school often still requires school fees (particularly for secondary education) and school uniforms. Combined with the cost of students required to bringing their own supplies these costs create low enrollment rates and high drop out rates.

$15 -$30/month = Keeps 1 child in school for a year
(Actual costs vary based on school fees requirements)

Programs that Direct Change supports include food and other necessities.

In 2001, about 93 percent of sub-Saharan African children entered school and two-thirds completed the cycle. Of these, only half mastered the expected basic skills. Thus, the main obstacles have shifted from increasing admission to reducing dropout rates and improving learning outcomes. But although admission rates are high, access remains a problem, especially with respect to equity, because access differs markedly by family income, urban/rural location, and gender. An added challenge is that, largely driven by HIV/AIDS, one out of ten primary school-age children will be orphaned by 2010. (Finance and Development, Quarterly publication of the IMF, June, 2005)