FORMAL EDUCATION
1) Pre School (for children below 6 years). Children are taught basics such as drawing, numbers, simple arithmetic, English and Kiswahili languages. The children are also taught basic hygiene because former to their rescue from the streets, they had no parental guidance.
2) Primary School Education. Children enter Grade one at age 6 and complete their schooling after 8 years when students write a national examination known as Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). Subjects include English, Kiswahili, Maths, Sciences, Geography, History, Art and Crafts and music. It is worth noting that in the typical school scenario, only the top 40% of students can move into Secondary School. Because MCF offers onsite schools they have the ability to offer all students an education to grade one to twelve.
3) Secondary School/High School Education. Students spend 4 years in high school at the end of which a student will write another national exam called the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). Less than 1/3 of all candidates in Kenya who sit this exam will be permitted to join university so competition is tough. Subjects taught include Home Science, Maths, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History and Government, Music, Commerce, Accounting among others.
4) University Education. MCF is the only home in Kenya that seeks to provide tuition for students who are fortunate enough to be accepted in post secondary studies by accredited Universities and Colleges. Most homes and institutions feel that offering a child a grade 8 education is more than adequate and in many cases, girls do not have the same access to education as boys. MCF expects only the very best for all the children who call MCF home and in this regard, encourages all students to achieve their dreams of an excellent future which may include attending university. MCF students continue to excell in University, many receiving awards for the first class honors and in 2006, two students graduating for separate universities were awarded the honor of receiving the highest academic marks in their entire university.
To date 51 MCF beneficiaries have graduated from University.
MCF Excels in Kenya National Exams
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MCF has been ranked as the best school in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in Yatta division with over 61 schools for 9 years running. In 2005, one of the MCF boys was ranked among the best 100 students in Kenya with more than 199,000 candidates. In 2003, MCF school was ranked among the top 41 schools in the republic of Kenya. In 1998 the best KCPE candidates in the Yatta division of 61 schools was a boy from the primary school. In the same year, the best performing girl in the in the division was from MCF. The best candidate in 2000 in Yatta division was a boy from MCF.
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The upper school has been ranked among top ten schools in Machakos district in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams for 5 years running and the best in rehabilitation schools category in the whole republic of Kenya.
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In 2001, the MCF Secondary school was ranked top in the district in the Kenya National Secondary School exams for year 2000.
For the last 12 years, the MCF school has been awarded the #1 school in the nation in the special schools category.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Students who do not excell academically are given the opportunity to learn a trade. The following technical education courses are offered according to the Kenya Ministry of Education requirements:
1. Hairdressing
2. Tailoring and Dress Making
3. Child Care
4. Home Science
5. Agriculture
6. Mechanical Engineering
7. Metal Work and Welding
8. Building and Construction*
9. Carpentry
10. Computer Studies
AGRICULTURAL TRAINING
This involves training according to the standards set by the Kenyan ministry of education. MCF farms are far more sophisticated than most in Kenya so the MCF students receive far more knowledge than any syllabus contains. MCF offers modern agricultural practises and training to community members.
CARPENTRY/ METAL WORK TRAINING
This department has successfully trained our beneficiaries in carpentry and welding which is implemented in producing desks, tables, chairs, metal doors, windows and gates which are used within the home.
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRAINING
This department teaches masonry work and offers on site apprenticeships. All the permanent stone structures in Ndalani have been constructed by students learning a trade. The building and construction department has also been involved commercially with schools and building renovations.
Canadians have donated the funds for many of the permanent dorms in Ndalani. The young men are paid for their apprenticeship and it also offers a income to help offset the costs of caring for the 2000 children in the MCF family.
MCF Yatta Rehabilitation Centre for Street Girls:
MCF Yatta, a rescue centre for street girls, is located about 40 Km away from Thika town on the Thika Garissa highway. This is home to over 200 girls. Yatta is a safe refuge for these girls where their physical, emotional and spiritual needs are met with medical care, parental love, spiritual nourishment, and emergency relief food are offered. The rehabilitation process starts and ends with love. The girls receive vocational training in tailoring, dressmaking, hair dressing, agriculture, evangelism, jewellery making and basketry.
Primary health care, cookery, child care, housekeeping and general home science will be of major emphasis as these help improve their living standards and prepare them for future responsibilities in their families in addition to the vocational training to empower them economically.
As fabric is an expensive training tool, the girls in the sewing and tailoring classes use the bags from maize and flour to hone their skills.
