How is a child selected to join the school?

For the school's first year, the children will be selected by the local government kebele (district) office and (with assistance from Kate) from those who registered with the office during January 2010. There are 20 places for Playgroup 1, and 18 places for Playgroup 2 as Kate's two adopted children will take up two places.

If more children register for a class than there are places, choices will be made according to the location of the child (ease of reaching the school) and the level of poverty of the family (an extremely poor family will be given priority) and the child's needs (priority will be given to physically handicapped children - regrettably, the school has no provision for mentally handicapped children).

Generally, only one child from one family will join the school, unless there is no pressure on places. In future years, Kate will do the registration at the school, but with the assistance of the kebele office.