Kisumu Girls High School students recently went on rampage. They accused their principal of denying them their right of worship. PHOTO ELIZABETH OJINA | NMG
The last two weeks has seen what has become a recurring pattern over the last few years.
Over the past two years there have been many changes to deal with challenges in our educational institutions. The main drive of these changes was the need to secure the examination system. On this score there has been some progress made.
However, the last two weeks has seen what has become a recurring pattern over the last few years. Unrest in schools resulting in burning down of buildings and eventually the closure of the affected institution. The incidents start in one school and continue to the next.
Several explanations are proffered for these incidents. These range from changes in policy by the ministry on management, indiscipline among students and the list goes on. What is not disputable is that these incidents are neither accidental nor unrelated. The pattern of the current events are similar to last year’s events.
The reported reaction by the ministry, however, does not inspire confidence. There have been reports of including the actions in criminal records of students so that whenever they apply for certificate of good conduct in the future, these can be captured. In addition, the ministry has issued numerous threats including prosecution.
In reality criminal acts require penal sanctions. However, it is necessary to diagnose the problems accurately so as to find a lasting solution. It cannot be that these incidents continue occurring and the responsible government agencies react as if they have been caught unawares. We have to ask what happened to investigations that were conducted the last time students went on a spree of burning their dormitories and classrooms.
There was huge outcry, threats and investigations. When eventually the issue settled nothing was heard of the findings of the investigations. We are back to the same space we were then and are busy issuing new directives on how to deal with the current events.
It is important that a candid conversation be undertaken on the state of our education system so as to identify what really ails it. This should lead to clear policy reforms in the sector. While many reforms have been introduced in the recent past, the process of policy formulation has either been reactive, non-consultative or both. Recently government came up with the policy of delocalisation. The rationale for this policy direction is laudable. It seeks to promote national cohesion and ensure that teachers do not just stay in their home villages.
However, its implementation fails to either appreciate or factor the economic consequence of the decision. As we move teachers as a matter of policy away from their countries, we have to factor in the transport and related economic consequences. It also pays to clearly discuss and communicate the rationale for these decisions.
Yes, teachers are not exempted from what happens to other public servants, but consultation ensures tranquillity. The Constitution recognises public participation as a fundamental aspect of governance and requires all public agencies to ensure there is public participation in all policy decisions they take. The rationale for this is very simple. The success of any public policymaking process is to obtain the buy-in of those to be affected by the proposed decision.
By giving them a chance to input into the decision, they get to provide alternatives that the decision maker may not have considered. In addition, the process of public participation gives the concerned people an opportunity to be aware of the envisaged policy direction and appreciate the reasons for its development.
Unfortunately, several policy pronouncements ranging from painting vehicles the same colour, delocalisation, including unrests in criminal records of children, surcharging parents for the damage by the students to the reported discussion of having similar uniform for students in all schools are introduced with very little public input and information and communicated in the form of punishment. Even well-meaning decisions, if implemented without sufficient socialisation of the populace will have negative consequences.
It is important that the ministry changes tack and realises that it has the responsibility of moulding the future population. The manner in which they discharge that mandate has implications on the future of the country. They cannot continue making reactive policies.
Secondly, the new educational curriculum was meant to give the country an opportunity to address several issues affecting the sector including addressing the thorny issue of examinations which is raised as a possible cause of the unrest.
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