Talks regarding the ongoing transformation of the education system are quite rife. Of great interest is how Kenyans are comparing the same with past experiences. While in a social gathering this week, I happened to interact with a lady, who is in her 70s. She is still mentally alert and also a very staunch catholic.
Having interacted with her for many years, I at least know that she attended a renown Catholic school, during her early days. So, I felt I needed to throw a question or two and gauge her reactions.
Madam Diana as we can refer to her for now was quite at ease. “Madam! l have observed you for many years and I keep wordering whether you had ever imagined of becoming a Catholic Nun, had you? I enquired.
Madam Diana: Me becoming a Nun! That had never occurred in my mind, all the time I was in school. However, some of my schoolmates longed to become Nuns and they actually made it.
Me: But, Madam what were the reasons that that enabled you to avoid becoming a Nun, yet being such a staunch catholic?
Madam Diana: There are many reasons, but foremost of all of them was the education system of those days.
Me: Which one was it?
Madam Diana: The 1:7: 2:2: 2: 3 education system was quite interesting. It involved 1 year in Nursery School, 7 in primary School, 2 in Junior school, 2 in senior school, 2 in A levels and finally 3 in university, thus a total of 17 years in Kenyan Schools.
Me: Thank you for that revelation, but how did it work for you?
Madam Diana: The education system that time was like a sieve. It was easy to chose joining technical secondary school after leaving primary school. Others sought admissions in academics. At form 2, there was a junior secondary school examination generally sat by those in private schools.
Me: Why not all secondary schools?
Madam Diana: Those in public schools were proceeding from Form 1 – 4. Those in private schools who passed junior secondary school exams were admitted to public secondary schools. Alternatively, they could be enlisted to join such careers as nursing amongst others.
Me: Really?
Madam Diana: In other words, there were numerous opportunities spread at different levels of education. Those who proceeded to Form 4 had numerous openings in teaching and agricultural institutions amongst others, for diploma courses.
Me: What of those who pursued A level education?
Madam Diana: Those who excelled could eventually pursue university education for high order careers such as Law, Engineering and many others. Those unsuccessful were still joining different colleges offering courses in agriculture, teaching and many others.
Me: Why didn’t you then consider becoming a Nun?
Madam Diana: With those kind of wide widespread opportunities, becoming a Nun was not aligned with my passion.
With these perceptions in mind why is it that there is so much dis-empowerment in the school system. Ideally, it seems that the focus of the 8-4-4 education system killed that process of sieving which happened in different stages.
Seemingly, the 8-4-4; education system unified the levels of education after abolishing some of those, in the previous system. The A level classes were for example abandoned.
Mind you, the 8-4-4 system was meant to be generally practical therefore offering opportunities to the huge majority of students. But, had that been achieved?
The opportunities in the 8-4-4 education system seem to have been diluted, especially with the killing of the blue collar job empowerment pathway. That now seems to be the essence of the Competency Based Curriculum, once implemented as envisaged.
That means aligning the education system with the paradigms of the 21st Century. Did you know that the Ugandan education system was also re-aligned in the year 2020? They realized that they also needed to be aligned with the 21st Century Paradigms, So, our country is on track, isn’t it?
Rgds
Mwangi Wanjumbi (MKIM)
Personal Empowerment Coach,
Speaker/Trainer on Strategy, Performance, Change Management and Leadership.
Seasoned Trainer of Trainers,
Competency Based Curriculum-CBC Architect,
Author of 1. KICD approved Career Dynamics in the 21st Century, 2. Living Beyond Survival:No More Tiptoeing in Life
- The 21st Century Student:Are You Creating The Future Today? Also, Retired 5 Year Monthly Strategy Columnist (2013 – 2018) for The SME Today Magazine Phone 254722516210
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