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Jackson, Mississippi, USA -?The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results are finally out.?The Ministry of Educations ranks schools based on the mean score of all students in [the particular] school.
X.N. Iraki The list of top schools looks so familiar that the Minister of Education could as well announce the release date and let the media fill the list.
The results reinforce a widely held belief; there are good and bad schools in Kenya . It is obvious that going to Starehe or Alliance (Bush) schools, substantially raises the probability that someday you will go [on] to the University and beyond. In some other schools, it is less certain.
The results also raise pertinent questions.
The first one has nothing to do with school ranking. What did the kids learn in four years?
We [Kenyans] take for granted that our kids acquire the right knowledge, skills and attitudes in school by taking the appropriate subjects. I have a case [in mind] where one upcountry girls' school, encouraged girls to drop biology for physics.
But even within the subject itself, we may ask whether the contents are relevant to the world they will face tomorrow.
America changed her curriculum after the Soviets beat them in the race to [extraterrestrial} space [in the 1950s]. Today a huge initiative on nanotechnology (the technolo gy tries to make machines that are [microspocially small]) is under way in the US; it is the next big thing.
Surprisingly some Kenyan teachers were recruited to teach under this initiative in the US!
- Did our [Kenyan} Science teachers mention nanotechnology in their classroom teaching?
- What of biotechnology and genetic engineering?
- Did Chemistry teachers inspire students to be the next inventors of super alloys and genetic drugs?
- Did the mathematics teachers constantly remind the students that the matrices they dislike in Math [are] the foundation of computer science?
- Did geography teachers remind kids that the future lies in Geographical Information Systems (GIS)?
- Did the Science teachers ask the students what will come after the mobile phone?
The second question is: What makes a school successful?
Why did St. Patrick's Iten school cease to be one of the most coveted schools in Kenya? I recall, [during] the mid-'80s, students who wanted to pursue sciences found it hard to choose between Alliance ?High School and St. Patrick's. Why did a new school like Sunshine rise to the top and stick there? Where is Shimo la Tewa High School ? Where is the legendary Nyahururu High School and did I hear Garba Tulla, a national school. is almost dead?
One secret behind successful schools is a tradition of excellence, reinforced by time, or powerful schools leaders, who are fully supported by parents and administrators. Who can deny that Starehe's secret is the freehand Dr.Griffins has -- particularly in selection of Form One students?
How many powerful parents and politicians "push" their kids into Starehe compared with other big schools?
The other secret is discipline. Intelligence without discipline is either useless or dangerous.? Most badly performing schools, even here in the US, are sorry cases of lack of firm discipline with police presence needed to control kids! Successful schools have no problem with discipline and powerful parents have no place [attempting to] flex their muscles on either teachers and the school head[master].
Could one also be justified in suggesting that behind every successful school lays the invisible hand of the church or private hands- not uncommon even in the USA, where top schools from Kindergarten to the University are private?
The third question [suggested by the KCSE results] is what the results mean to the country [of Kenya] and its policymakers, to the parents and to the students?
Kenya has no shortage of gifted children. To date, I know of few concerted efforts to harness this group's talents. We have special schools in Kenya, mostly for those with learning disabilities. Why don't we have schools for exceptional children??As a country, we must ensure that the gifted use their talents for our common good by supporting them. Our exams can easily identify such kids.
The country must, as usual, grapple with the problem of where all these KCSE graduates will go; it is not just a parents' problem.
It has been repeated [by my countrymen] over and again that the country is in dire need of middle level colleges. I can't recall when the last middle level college was started. What happened to [the] once vibrant initiative [for an] Institute of Science and Technology?
The KCSE results should be an alarm clock to the government and policy makers. One very admirable aspect of the American government, at both federal and state levels. is the planning efforts. We too can do that. Why else does the government keep records of students in school if it does [not] use that to plan for their future?
The KCSE results are useful in another way; they are quality checks, not just for students, but also for teachers and head teachers. How many heads roll after the results are out?? Why do some head teachers remain in [their] same stations despite poor results year after year? How many "school fiefdoms" has the NARC government dismantled?
KCSE is more than [student and teacher performance] results; it is an audit of our school system, which is closely tied to our political!=economic system. Like all audits, we need improvements. That is what makes a country progress. Good schools have an effect that is transmitted through the system and generations.
Any serious government that believes in progress must actively promote the highest standards of education. And we have examples of countries that have perfected that like the Asian Tigers.
One reason the US is ahead of us is because her decentralized education tries to make the best out of students, with the shortfall easily filled by highly motivated and talented foreigners, cheaply.
To the parents, it might be a time to worry -- particularly if your kid never qualified to go to University. There will be frantic efforts to secure jobs or training opportunities both locally and abroad. Parents must not fall prey to conmen and other charlatans, who prey on their desperation.? The burden of parenthood is not light, and it was never light, perhaps why inevitably small families will become the norm.
For the students, this is your moment of truth. My advice is, you have the longer part of your life unlived. Therefore don't say it is over. You still can change your life.
To those going to campus, congrats. To those not, congrats, you were patient for four years, but I am sure you now know your mistakes, if any. Besides, who said exams are the only measure of your potential?
My suggestion is [that you should]?try and get into areas people don't like, either because they are perceived as dirty or hard. Ergo, accounting, auto mechanics or business. Start small. With time you will make money and become independent and respected. But you must be patient; it takes time to make money. You may find it easier to succeed if you take one area and become an expert in it.
Another tip, pleases leave your village and expose yourself to new challenges, get away from protective arms of the family.
And you may not like me for this: don't marry by the end of this year!
The political-economic mood in Kenya may be a discouragement to most students who are getting their KCSE results. But heroes are made through rising above such discouragements. Politicians will continue quarrelling among themselves, but don't listen to them, they are at work, and are paid every month.
There is [also] very good news; we have sunk so low in Kenya, politically, economically and in other aspects that we can only rise! If, as a school leaver, you can play your role in transforming Kenya into the Swahili Tiger, you are welcome. Start now, pessimism will take you nowhere, will take us nowhere.
X.N. IRAKI, a Lecturer at University of Nairobi's Faculty of Commerce is a Fulbright Scholar in Mississippi.
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