SAVE TURKANA EDUCATION OR ELSE...?
By Ereng Ekamais Austine
In his pursuit for the greatness of South African community, the great anti-apartheid icon of South Africa- Nelson Mandela in one of his greatest speeches once said, ” Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world “.Perhaps, the words of this wise Pan-Africanist icon and liberator has found a place in my heart. Today he is very right. No wonder today South Africa has the best universities in the whole continent of Africa.
While it’s very true (even for the Numbskull) that education is the only solution to both mental and material poverty that still imprison my people up to date, my conscience has been restless ever since when I see academic performance in my County schools deteriorating. The fact that leadership and the key stakeholders in Turkana still treat Education as an option up to now is worrying. This is why my pen will not hesitate to write, this is among the many reasons why I developed passion in writing - to bring light to their to the masses and to inject fresh dose.
On the Sunday of May 20th, 2018 Citizen TV news was headlined by news that St.Kevin’s Secondary School principal was made to be transferred to another school due to pressure built up by parents who believed that he was the reason behind the schools’ poor performance. Well, it could be true to their dogma but again if I were to question this; Is it only teachers who are held responsible when a school fails? Then if not teachers who is accountable for poor performance of a school? Can changing the administration better the results? Why were the results much better in the past? Is there anything we can do to better the results?
Careful analysis of this poignant questions brings to my mind a notion that although institutional leadership is much responsible for poor performance but also everyone else (especially those we call elites) in Turkana County is responsible for poor academic performance. However, I strongly believe that academic excellence is a collective responsibility that involves Teachers, students, parents, leadership and academic ecology. Believe you me, If we’re not part of this problem definately we’re part of the solution. Every problem has a solution, all is possible with God.
About few years down the lane, Turkana county has been performing poorly in KCSE examination, the graphical representation of results is depreciating badly. We need to work extra hard to avoid this ghost of failure. We cannot be able climb this success ladder with our hands in our pockets, something must be done. What affects Turkana affects all of us as the elites of this community. Turkana need selfless guys who can go beyond their barriers for its success.
Just to condemn the action that took place in St. Kevin’s Secondary School and any school for this case , since the parents whose students are learning in that school realized that the school has been performing poorly what actions did they put in place to better the performance? Is blaming the school principal the solution? What has the Ministry of Education in Turkana county done to avoid subsequent mass failing of students? Any seminar, mentorship or motivational talk launched in any Secondary School in the County? What has been done by the school Alumni in response to poor results? What about Turkana Professionals and associations like TUSCUSA? Any action taken by them? Our political leaders, has any of them taken into account that we’ve failed and it shouldn’t happen again? Could it be that the teachers have become more reluctant and less worried about poor academic performance in Turkana county?
Answering these questions will awaken our minds and help us to realize where the rain started beating us. It may seem mundane for me to speak to you about this but understanding the cause of the problem that aches is a solution in itself. Local problems have local solutions. Schools like Lodwar Boys’ National School which used to be the only oasis in Turkana county making the headlines in the most state newspapers each time the results are out, where is it appearing today? When schools in West Pokot like Kapenguria Boys and Chewoyet High School are ascending to the top. What is it that is in West Pokot that is not in Turkana County?
It has also come to my notice that school principals are becoming more of entrepreneurs with school resources than teachers. They have introduced something they call motivation fee and it is COMPULSORY because any students who fails to bring these fee is made to go back home to bring that fee. Why do you have to be motivated only to produce citizens who cannot even help themselves in future? This is an indirect attempt to steal from financially wrecked down parents who toil sleeplessly to ensure that their children get quality education.
Nevertheless, I hear that they have come up with something called School Alumni associations to contribute in the developing infrastructure of the school and end year anniversaries. I strongly support the idea but again how is it contributing to better academic performance? Because at the end of each year it’s the results that will define and sell out the value of the school and promote its dignity.
This is an academic conundrum. Stop this charade. This is just like a scam.
Back to Nelson Mandela sentiment, he metaphorically referred to education as a weapon, in fact the most powerful which means it’s an arsenal to fight mental poverty, material poverty and to survive in this world. I hold into the fact that education can take you from rags to riches, from loneliness to popularity and from melancholy to happiness and ecstasy that is if you care more about your academic performance. For your information my Turkana people, oil dollars alone cannot change our lives but education can.
It should be taken into account that education is a collective responsibility, blames won’t aid us or solve our challenges they merely create new ones and perhaps they display our weakness and how disunited we are. We don’t just request results, we demand them- every student in Turkana county MUST
know that. We’ve failed and let’s recognize that and get reorganized ourselves. All is not lost, a brilliant future is awaiting should education be held as the first priority.
It was Confucius that great Chinese philosopher with whom I reserve my ink who said, “If your plan is for one year plant rice. If your plan is for 10 years plant tress. If your plan is for 100 years ,educate children”.
In his pursuit for the greatness of South African community, the great anti-apartheid icon of South Africa- Nelson Mandela in one of his greatest speeches once said, ” Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world “.Perhaps, the words of this wise Pan-Africanist icon and liberator has found a place in my heart. Today he is very right. No wonder today South Africa has the best universities in the whole continent of Africa.
While it’s very true (even for the Numbskull) that education is the only solution to both mental and material poverty that still imprison my people up to date, my conscience has been restless ever since when I see academic performance in my County schools deteriorating. The fact that leadership and the key stakeholders in Turkana still treat Education as an option up to now is worrying. This is why my pen will not hesitate to write, this is among the many reasons why I developed passion in writing - to bring light to their to the masses and to inject fresh dose.
On the Sunday of May 20th, 2018 Citizen TV news was headlined by news that St.Kevin’s Secondary School principal was made to be transferred to another school due to pressure built up by parents who believed that he was the reason behind the schools’ poor performance. Well, it could be true to their dogma but again if I were to question this; Is it only teachers who are held responsible when a school fails? Then if not teachers who is accountable for poor performance of a school? Can changing the administration better the results? Why were the results much better in the past? Is there anything we can do to better the results?
Careful analysis of this poignant questions brings to my mind a notion that although institutional leadership is much responsible for poor performance but also everyone else (especially those we call elites) in Turkana County is responsible for poor academic performance. However, I strongly believe that academic excellence is a collective responsibility that involves Teachers, students, parents, leadership and academic ecology. Believe you me, If we’re not part of this problem definately we’re part of the solution. Every problem has a solution, all is possible with God.
About few years down the lane, Turkana county has been performing poorly in KCSE examination, the graphical representation of results is depreciating badly. We need to work extra hard to avoid this ghost of failure. We cannot be able climb this success ladder with our hands in our pockets, something must be done. What affects Turkana affects all of us as the elites of this community. Turkana need selfless guys who can go beyond their barriers for its success.
Obstacles are objects of power. Barricades can be turned into bridges, stumbling blocks can become stepping stones, Mountain blocks are places where someone has to stand in order to see further. Setbacks are only feedback that we need to only proceed in a different direction. This is my message to every elite in Turkana. Let's save our community. The standards of education that we have today determine the standards of leadership we would have tomorrow.
Just to condemn the action that took place in St. Kevin’s Secondary School and any school for this case , since the parents whose students are learning in that school realized that the school has been performing poorly what actions did they put in place to better the performance? Is blaming the school principal the solution? What has the Ministry of Education in Turkana county done to avoid subsequent mass failing of students? Any seminar, mentorship or motivational talk launched in any Secondary School in the County? What has been done by the school Alumni in response to poor results? What about Turkana Professionals and associations like TUSCUSA? Any action taken by them? Our political leaders, has any of them taken into account that we’ve failed and it shouldn’t happen again? Could it be that the teachers have become more reluctant and less worried about poor academic performance in Turkana county?
Answering these questions will awaken our minds and help us to realize where the rain started beating us. It may seem mundane for me to speak to you about this but understanding the cause of the problem that aches is a solution in itself. Local problems have local solutions. Schools like Lodwar Boys’ National School which used to be the only oasis in Turkana county making the headlines in the most state newspapers each time the results are out, where is it appearing today? When schools in West Pokot like Kapenguria Boys and Chewoyet High School are ascending to the top. What is it that is in West Pokot that is not in Turkana County?
It has also come to my notice that school principals are becoming more of entrepreneurs with school resources than teachers. They have introduced something they call motivation fee and it is COMPULSORY because any students who fails to bring these fee is made to go back home to bring that fee. Why do you have to be motivated only to produce citizens who cannot even help themselves in future? This is an indirect attempt to steal from financially wrecked down parents who toil sleeplessly to ensure that their children get quality education.
Nevertheless, I hear that they have come up with something called School Alumni associations to contribute in the developing infrastructure of the school and end year anniversaries. I strongly support the idea but again how is it contributing to better academic performance? Because at the end of each year it’s the results that will define and sell out the value of the school and promote its dignity.
This is an academic conundrum. Stop this charade. This is just like a scam.
Back to Nelson Mandela sentiment, he metaphorically referred to education as a weapon, in fact the most powerful which means it’s an arsenal to fight mental poverty, material poverty and to survive in this world. I hold into the fact that education can take you from rags to riches, from loneliness to popularity and from melancholy to happiness and ecstasy that is if you care more about your academic performance. For your information my Turkana people, oil dollars alone cannot change our lives but education can.
It should be taken into account that education is a collective responsibility, blames won’t aid us or solve our challenges they merely create new ones and perhaps they display our weakness and how disunited we are. We don’t just request results, we demand them- every student in Turkana county MUST
know that. We’ve failed and let’s recognize that and get reorganized ourselves. All is not lost, a brilliant future is awaiting should education be held as the first priority.
It was Confucius that great Chinese philosopher with whom I reserve my ink who said, “If your plan is for one year plant rice. If your plan is for 10 years plant tress. If your plan is for 100 years ,educate children”.
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