Gusii & Luoland Education!:)!

Wananchi,

We are all family regardless of our level of education. Let us keep the ball rolling forward. Things can only get better if we network and work together as a team as EQUALS.

Please allow me share my teaching experiences.

After form six way way back I did get employed by TSC (Teachers Service Commision) as one of the "untrained" Primary teachers Ekerenyo Division, Nyamira District. I was taken with 7 other young men and women out of 50 or so applicants all with remarkable qualifications.

As I lined up for the interview very early in the morning at Kebabe Secondary School my Dad had gone to Kericho Township to get photocopies of my academic credentials. Just as I was very close to be interviewd my oldman showed up smiling and handed me the papers. Everybody was stunned!

Yes, I did get in!

Mr Steve Makwae Gekara
Kenguso Primary School

---

I taught very many classes per a day different classes from Standard 3 to 8 in the 8-4-4- education system; English, (Ki) swahili, business, PE, Mathematics, Arts and craft, GHC, Science, Drama, Soccer,etc.

By the end of the day I was soo exhausted! The kids saw me as their new saviour. Deep inside I knew I never had ample time to prepare well.

My folks are farmers, so when I got home I had to get into family chores without exception. Just imagine!

Yes, I did give it my 100% and the rest of the teachers started feeling some sort of jealousy since I was the new bright teacher in school but I knew I was their briefly because I was going Abroad.

Honestly speaking, I helped those kids the best I could and the school produced a pupil chosen to Njiris High School.

Here is what I noted lacking in the school(s):

1) Pupils:

excessive lateness
low academic morale,motivation, etc
lack of committment
orphans
poor marks
indiscipline
untidiness
lack of school uniforms
hunger
teen pregnancies
venereal diseases
no school supplies (books, exercises, pencils, pens,etc)
malaria infections, etc

2) Teachers:

lateness
indiscipline
don't call role calls
no records for marks, performance, etc
no committment
matatu business
family issues
conflicts/fights
child abuses (seducing kids,verbal abuses, pupils (girls)cook, wash, draw water, and fetch firewood for teachers, boys send to shops to buy cigarettes, etc)
maternity leaves
seeking transfers instead of concentrating in teaching
too much Kisii language in school, class, etc
poor training
poor school attendance
uninformed
drunkeness
too many untrained teachers in one school, etc
lack of preparations
absenteeism
time wastage walking kids go bring milk & supplies from Ekerenyo
anger management, etc

3) Headmaster

poor leadership
disconnected with parents
drunkeness
absenteeism
false hopes
language barriers (using Kisii language in school parades, teacher's meetings, etc)

4) School facilities & supplies:

lack of enough books
spoiled milk
no vaccination as in the past olden days, etc
few classroom desks
cows from neighbourhood graze and sleep in classrooms,etc
congessted classrooms due to overcrowding
poor buildings ( leaking roofs, dusty floors with "chinsona", ebirombeta, jiggers, etc)
no covered windows in case of weather incleament ( heavy rainfalls stop learning)
poor sanitation ( pit latrines that are few harzadous and dangerous, etc)
pumpy and dangerous school playgrounds, etc
lack of development funds

5) Ministry of Education- Ekerenyo Division::

corrupt school inspectors( take bribes through Nyama choma, etc)
biassed school inspectors (" bad" ways of teacher transfers)
no vaccinnations
lack funds

6) Accessibility:

Remoteness
poor roads
slippery paths, etc
unsafe neighbourhoods ( girls get raped while walking from school, etc)

7) Parents:

very disconnected
poor attendance to school meetings
send kids to garden instead of going to a school
fight teachers
poverty stricken (the times are harsh economically)

Wananchi, let me walk you to the neighbouring primary schools where things are working:

MODEL # 1:

Ngoina Primary School
Ngoina Tea Estate
Buret Division, Kericho District

School:

Ecellent permanent school buildings
excellent stationery supplies
clean cemented floors
enough nice classroom desks
no overcrowding
mabati roofs, glass window panes with doors that are closed after school, etc
school development funds provided by the Tea Estate and Division

Pupils:

school attendance is attractive and remarkable
school records excellent
academic performance is sensational
discipline is as norm followed through the school rules and regulation, etc
minimal lateness

Teachers:

keep role calls, records, etc
apply English all the time and (Ki) swahili
most teachers are of a good mix from different tribes
disciplined
mark school work clearly and with a keen eye
counsil pupils
very tidy (great examples in school and to the community)

Headmaster:

Mr Dominic Oyula was tremendous
highly informed
knew all kids like a computer...
showed and expected respect
great leadership credentials
he initiated "round tests" with neighbouring schools to improve quality of academics, etc
wise leadership
always in control

Ministry of education; Buret Divison:

School inspectors were feared and did an excellent job
teacher transfers done way it should in a very controlled manner
replacement of teachers on maternity leaves done effectively
provide school development funds

Parents:

work in partnership with the school, etc.
very connected and kept informed of happenings, etc.

MODEL # 2

Naivasha Primary Boarding School:

One of the best schools in the country in terms of everything. Nothing to talk about! The buildings were like any secondary school. The pupils came from Jomo's backyard, the Koinanges, Oginga's backyard Siaya, Shikuku's, Nyachae's, Onyonka's, etc.

What do you expect? Great academic performances. Fully equiped with teaching and all the required facilities.

Here is my point:

Gusii and Luoland (the Lake Region) we have great potential. However mere talk in the internet and conferences in Minneapolis Minnesota USA can only be fruitful, productive, and successful if we take matters to the Ground.

Let us do it collectively as a unit in order to match well with MODEL # 1 from the neighbouring Kipsigis brethrens portrayed above !

We are family!

Once again, we need to try help work out strategies to enable good things happen instead of attacking others unnecessarily. I agree 110% with ndugu Douglass Michoma Moenga who has the opinion we all discuss, talk, open lines of communications, and share what we think will and can be implemented back home.

Please don't get me wrong; we are all family. It pains me to see someone go on-and on trying demean Dr Kambuni Nyambane in a very stupid manner. If you have a problem with somebody there are other proper channels to resolve that.

NOT IN THIS ESTEEMED HOUSE!

Yes, it is not nice to verbally abuse our elders nomatter how bad they sound to you. We are all family and one bad apple will not derail our focus.

Please let us learn to accept those ahead of us. You are in America apply for school go get your Phd as well. Way to go!

Wananchi, let us ahare ideas and discuss them even if we agree to disagree we can always reach a compromise as brothers and sisters.

I'm very proud to see someone receive his Phd and it motivates the children of Kenya to work toward that goal. The likes of Dr Zachary Mosoti deserve a lot of respect and credit. Furthermore, that is what brought all of us here.

Remember Gusii and Lake Region education will improve if we start from the grassroots; primary schools! Also, the parents must work in partnership with the school administration, teachers, local education committees, etc in order to get things done.

Pupils are just innocent passengers seeking academic direction.

The parents need to create a friendly and safe atmosphere to teachers in the neighbourhoods and keep their livestock away from school compounds. Let us try stop the blaming games on teachers for poor performances. We are all at fault!

Kind Rgds,

Steve M.Gekara
============
"Education is gate-way to success!"