One of the most heartbreaking things for me as I travel across Kenya is to see so many children out of school, pleading to resume their studies because their life truly depends on it. In the West we take basic education for granted but in Kenya, education is a potential ticket out of poverty, a step in the direction of living a life with dignity.

In the western area of Burnt Forest, in the Rift Valley, an 18-year-old girl named Rispa Irungu approached me and said she only had one more exam to go before completing her secondary school education.

"I lost all my text books," she said. "They burned everything down and chased us out. I really want to finish school but now I have nothing left and I am living in a broken car. What will happen to my education and to my future?"

Irungu's eyes were fixed on me. She expected an answer and some help. She did not seem to care about the fact that for the coming days she may have to go without food, water, soap and other basic necessities or that it gets cold in the evening and that blankets are scarce. Her mind was squarely focused on continuing her studies, on having a chance to sit for her final secondary school exam.

What never occurred to me before I adopted my daughter last year is how important a child's school calendar is. My life now seems to rotate around my daughter's kindergarten schedule and playgroup activities. I can only imagine the impact of the loss of education on the families of thousands of children now unable to attend school.

According to data released by the Ministry of Education and reported in the Nation daily newspaper, more than 60,000 students from primary and secondary schools in the Rift Valley Province have been displaced following post-election violence. About 660 primary and secondary school teachers have also been temporarily transferred to safer areas, while about 10,000 have lost their jobs due to the violence.

The ministry predicts thousands of children will miss their primary and secondary school exams this year and thus be set back in their studies if and when they manage to resume them. Though relief agencies are setting up tents in camps and bringing in school teachers, the educational needs remain great and it's expected that many children will fall through the cracks.

Camp security is also a major concern as gangs of youth are starting to attack displaced people wherever they area. The last weekend of January in the town of Nakuru, the capital of the Rift Valley, rival gangs from different ethnic groups blocked roads and went on a rampage, burning and looting houses, businesses and trying to attack shelters where women and children are seeking refuge.

In the town of Kisumu just a few days ago, the New York Times reported that a mob had cleaned out a school that was hosting displaced families. They took desks, chairs, books, doors and even windows. Kenyan television stations showed dozens of terrified children running out of the school, some holding hands, as the mob closed in. Inevitably, the psychological impact of such violence will haunt the next generation for years to come.

Dorah Nyanja, a nurse who runs a health clinic and pharmacy in Kibera in Nairobi, speaks of children displaying more violent behavior and asking unusual questions that reflect Kenya's current polarization. "What is your ethnic group Daktari?" is a question she has been hearing lately and one that particularly worries her. She responds to them, "What does tribe have to do with me being here?"

Though this is not the first time that ethnic violence has flared up after national elections, Nyanja says, this is the first time that divisions are so pronounced and widespread.

Children who witnessed the violence saw arsonists attacking people, destroying property and burning down homes and schools. Some children witnessed teachers being chased away by their former students who have joined in the skirmishes.

"I think we will need a lot of psychosocial support to offset what has happened in Kibera and the rest of the country," says Nyanja. "Parents need to understand that children internalize what they see and hear and they translate that into behaviors. There is a need for counseling and a lot of community work to rebuild the social fabric."

Reuters AlertNet is not responsible for the content of external websites.