"We were told to read hard, pass exams and then enjoy life. But we blatantly mistook “enjoying life” as discarding reading all in all...
Honestly, shame on us if we can proudly walk head high masquerading as ‘university-materials’ when we cannot defend what we claim to be having...
Parallel degrees not only puts a grim caricature of once a beautiful education but also deadens the credibility of degrees..."
ILLITERACY, READING CULTURE AND VISION2030
Everybody has a right to education and I suspect, by extrapolation, everyone must have education by end of this millennium. But as a society we have failed to understand that education is not about preparing people for ready-made jobs. Collective needs together with individual aspects, such as better employment prospects and better lifetime salaries for those with higher education, have been the main causes of the unprecedented mushrooming of higher education institutions (HEIs) and colleges (many of them private) around the city and the country at large. Fortunately following the recent wake of the fashionable vision 2030, this investment in higher education might be commensurate. However, as all universities crave to offer all courses and education is commoditized, quality is the looser as institutions escalate illiteracy in another level. Despite this dubious competition, none of the colleges has announced any breakthrough in global warming, in technology or in medicine. Consequently, this necessitates the million dollar question: will Kenyan universities in this century continue to be the organization “par excellence” of creativity and innovation?
One need not walk very far to see the hand of the alienating aspects of our education system in our abhorrence of the book. We were told to read hard, pass exams and then enjoy life. But we blatantly mistook “enjoying life” as discarding reading all in all. University students start two weeks to and stop reading immediately after the final paper to start “enjoying life”. End of semester born fires as students burn their books is a pleasure, and as it is the order of the day, burning a whole library in KU jolts no qualms about it naturally.
HEIs must emphasize the distinction between “knowing that” and “knowing how”, reminiscing that the world goes around because of people who “know how”. One professor challenged his students to explain the meaning of ‘Hg’ the symbol for mercury, none cracked. Not that they don’t know mercury, they do not question ‘how’. Honestly, shame on us if we can proudly walk head high masquerading as ‘university-materials’ when we cannot defend what we claim to be having. Shame on us if we can’t strengthen our own innovative capacity from within by reading widely and wildly: from science, law up to religion. Still shame on us if we claim to be Kenyan and therefore using a ‘mwakenya’ from exam-room to bedroom is nothing to falter about.
Reading incorporates the empowerment of human mind. Reading strengthens the minds capacity to make meaningful choices in life. Reading lays the opportunity to enjoy intercourse with superior minds. Reading activates the mind and exercises its muscles pushing it to use our imagination for ingenuity. What an academic waste! If global wastrels were to be prepared today, Kenyan students would be very highly ranked. We can’t measure up in a global platform simply because we’ve weaned the BOOK! Left, write and centre books are still considered to be valuable objects worth possessing, worth befriending and cherished even by those who hardly ever read. If research were to be done today, 90% of students own less than one book whereas electronics takes the day. Let’s read the Bible and the Koran all in equal measure, history and newspapers with equal gusto and we shall be good to go the extra mile.
Unless the concerned ministry moves fast to reclaim the primacy of higher education, HEIs are destined to doom. Higher education cannot be considered a commodity exchanged in the market place. “Par excellence” ISO certification should not be a position just ‘given’, or came naturally. It must be deserved and comes only with excellent performances. A culture of (high) quality in all activities is, therefore, a must in any varsity (but does not entail wearing uniforms). The University of Nairobi has more parallel than regular students, so far the only university that has accredited the concept in the name of and I quote, “they run the university.” Even as they are given a pedestal at the top of the ‘food chain’, we must, with the best of intention, play tactfully without sacrificing quality on the altar of profit and monopoly of the rich.
As we hanker for more education, in our endeavor to realize vision2030, let’s get the facts crystal clear. The reduction and ultimate elimination of Kenyan poverty and inequality is the pre-eminent socioeconomic precedence. This truth must be part of the university’s commitment to the development and dissemination of knowledge. Intellectually speaking, we’re loosing in big time if higher education is meant to give papers only and not instill confidence and equip students with expository knowledge. It’s not surprising seeing students go around garnering irrelevant certificates and easy degrees from the fake colleges that are on the loose, solely to decorate their CVs since that is what Kenyan employers want-a whole page of pot-pourri of courses. Make no mistake, it isn’t what you went through but what you have that matter to them.
We cannot gainsay the magnificence of the continuous education programme (CEP) aka module II programmes. But for sure, its current status and caliber not only puts a grim caricature of once a beautiful education but also deadens the credibility of degrees. What reputation is relished if some sacred cows can complete a diploma/degree in a quarter or less the time it takes to complete the same in full-time dedication? Leave alone that one is there by virtue of ‘pocket-size’ and not by merit or IQ touchstone. Good Kenyan call me judgmental or myopic but the truth should be told. First, it’s their memory being tested. The ones with good cramming power graduate with first class honors by photographing a few pages notes given. A candid catalyst backing up the otherwise subversive programme stagnating any 2030 projections. Many may strongly disagree others may not. The many may either be undergoing the programme, they have a relative undergoing it or they benefit from it money-wise. But if we want this famous Dream2040 come true, we must bestow our youth with the best. One anonymous author said, “We can always repair the roof over our heads to stop the rain from getting in, but if we do not look after the foundation, sooner or later the house will cave in-with us in it.” Our scholars are our foundations. The foundation to the Kenyan’s dream. And this raises the other inevitable question: is our foundation taken care of: Any leakages? DPC well laid? We don’t have to set a special tribunal or commission to probe into the truth of this matter. Get this straight from the horse’s mouth; something has to be done.
The challenge for Dr. Kosgei is to rekindle the citizenry’s dying embers of hope in the higher institutions. For one she must reign over the docket, cushion institution from commercialization by imposing educational tax, demand teaching etiquette for both regular and CEP students in all purporting colleges, put a clear policy on academic-industrial collaboration and most importantly flagships should be more than just “Nyayo Cars”. Perhaps if you had the patience to read this far, job well done and thus luxuriate in a reading culture with Ecclesiastics 7.5: “It is better to have wise men reprimand you than to have stupid people sing your praises.” Amen.
MAGATI M. ALPHONCE
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