Profiting from the Poor: the case of Bridge International Academies in Kenya

Pupils are not really learning and teachers are not really teaching at Bridge International Academies in Kenya. Still, many families sacrifice large sums of their budget, which go into the "low cost" education provided by this chain. But what lies behind the green walls of these schools? Should parents trust them, pupils put their future into their hands and international donors contribute to the success of a chain that is not up to standards when it comes to offering quality education for all? This video will be eye-opening for many.
Bridge runs more than 400 nurseries and primary schools across Africa. It started its expansion after opening its first school in a slum in 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya, where it currently operates 359 academies throughout catering to 102,644 students with over 4255 academy staff.
Bridge is financially supported by the likes of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and education conglomerate Pearson Ltd. It is also supported by the World Bank and DfID-UK. Bridge’s business model, which includes fee charging schools run by unqualified teachers delivering a scripted standardised curriculum, has faced heavy criticism. The Ugandan branch of Bridge has recently come under scrutiny for offering an education well below the national standards, which prompted the order by the Ugandan Education Ministry to close the schools in Ocotber 2016. Also attracting significant criticism is the Liberian Government’s announcement to outsource its primary schools to Bridge.
The company has plans to dramatically increase the scale and scope of its operations to deliver education services to over 10 million children across a dozen countries by 2025.
To find more about Bridge go here: www.unite4educ...
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[@aaronmcmurray2629]

it takes more courage and bravery to go against the trend of profit before people than it does to protect the people themselves. The critical comments below sound like people who have private vested interests in protecting the public image & profits of the Bridge company.

[@liberty496]

Are public schools any better? This is a direct consequence of government mismanagement of public education, that's why the private sector has stepped in. The fact remains that these schools are better than no schools at all.

[@cedieave5412]

Outsourcing the education of your Country will lead to grievous future consequences.

[@qolspony]

This sounds like a campaign to destroy the competition. This is propaganda!

[@qolspony]

Many parents can't even read. How are they going to check on the curriculum?

[@talibunajat8178]

this doesn't seem right. my instinct tells me that bridge is doing well. there will always be detractors

[@chesigrif]

Regrettable how bitter former employees will cash in on the poor's chance to excel through affordable learning options. Opinion leaders need better platforms to interrogate positive participation in reaching the underserved. Bridge is well thought out, better option for these families.

[@ndolisabi4070]

+Griffin Chesi Government needs to provide learning opportunities to these communities and at the same time close down all these money making schemes called bridge school!

[@chesigrif]

Ndoli, there is no money making. Like any business parents pay some money to pay for overhead costs of running these schools. The government cannot for, that's why partnership with Bridge and other similar ventures will help the underserved. Closing them is just a rich man's desire to keep the poor, poor.

[@Buildsolarhomes]

Ndoli Sabi Government needs to stay out of the education business.

[@fionamati]

where I draw the line is where you have 'former' staff providing info. This is simply biased.