Quota system in education sector should be discarded

Following the introduction of the new government policy on Form One admissions where public schools will be given priority over private in national schools, it is time we reflected on the national goals of our education system.

Education is supposed to foster nationalism, patriotism and promote national unity, promote the social, economic, technological and industrial needs for national development, promote individuals development and fulfilment and promote sound moral and religious values.

Our education system is expected to promote social equality and responsibility, respect for, and development of Kenya’s rich and varied culture, international consciousness and foster positive attitude towards other nations and to promote positive attitudes towards good health and environmental protection.

These are noble goals that would mould our children to whole beings who would not only make good citizens of this country but also global ones.

National cohesion

Take for instance the goal to foster nationalism, patriotism and to promote national unity.

Achievement of this goal failed with the introduction of the policy on quota system in admission to secondary school and the classification of schools at the district level.

This system was introduced in the 1980s and stipulates that provincial schools should admit 85 percent of their students from their localities.

Proponents of this system argue that since it is the locals who built the schools, it is only fair that their children benefit from their toil.

Although the quota system was introduced at a time when the government withdrew support for schools, the policy has had negative impacts in the minds of growing children.

A child born, bred and educated in local schools and post-primary institutions was unlikely to experience the riches of social-cultural diversity.

Education should enable learners to interact with each other and learn to tolerate and appreciate the differences in their cultures.

Children from one region of the country should be given the opportunity to go to school in another region and that way we would be able to get rid of stereotypes about other communities.

Locking children to their local institutions from primary to secondary school, and only allowing them to interact freely at the university disadvantages them in many ways.

We cannot talk and wish for national cohesion, integration and diversity when our education system goes contrary to the wishes and aspirations of the people and the nation of Kenya through the quota system and therefore should be discarded.

Mr Mburu is an MA student at the University of Nairobi.