Greetings!
Afghan students take two national tests a year. Their scores are compared with the scores of students in their class and everyone is ranked. The rankings help us identify students doing well and those who are struggling. Suzanne, Basir and Qudsia find out why children are struggling and provide additional support where helpful.
There have been a few who just don't want to study or do their work and consequently have been dropped from the program. "You can lead a horse to water..." The vast majority do extremely and surprising well. They and their parents know the way out of poverty is through education. For Afghan women education also lessens their dependence upon men.
Most of the children were discovered while working on the streets of Kabul by Basir and Qudsia, our program directors. They drive around looking for candidates, interview them and then meet with their parents.
Before sponsorship begins parents sign an agreement providing the sponsored child will no longer work on the streets. If they violate the agreement, they risk being dropped from the program. In the ten years since the sponsorship program began none of the children have returned to streets. That is, at least to our knowledge. The fact is parents don't want their children to work on the streets. They just need the money their children can make. Sometimes it's more than their fathers are earning. In the most difficult cases the family lacks a father.
What does it take to buy the time children are working on the streets? Most receive $50 a month, a little more when they go to college.
So How Did They Do?
Twenty six children (37%) of the 70 children who took the most recent test placed in the top 20% of their class. Sixteen children (23%) placed in the top 10% of their class. Three were fifth in their class, one was fourth, five were third, two were second, and FIVE WERE FIRST IN THEIR CLASS!!!! Class sizes vary. Below are the numbers;
25 in the class -- one class
30 - 39 two
40 - 49 nine
50 - 60 fourteen
Profiles of the top five are below
The photos on the left were taken when they were admitted to the sponsorship program. The photos on the right are the most recent. Just like the fruit trees I wrote about in the last newsletter, they have grown and continue to grow. And, we get to watch them over time!!!
