re: Mkida - Mr.Makora/Mr.Gekara: thank you./ Nd.

Nd Osiemo,

In order to improve and develop the level of education Gusii I have many proposals that I feel will work without incurring unnecessary extra financial backing. Let us spin the wheel:

1) Ministry of education:

Teacher transfers:

I propose the engagement of transferring teachers to Kericho and Luoland to learn and get their act together. We want to have teachers from outside teach our children in English and (Ki)swahili.

Therefore I will propose Gusiiland work in partnership with surrounding neighbours to make this work. The Kalenjins (Kipsigis rather) will bring new and fresh blood to the classrooms to clean the mess.

My Luo sisters and brothers will bring new ideologies just like it happens in schools run by Brook, Bond, & Liebig Kenya Limited within the Kericho Tea Estates; a great mix of teachers from everywhere and the academic records don't lie.

Let Gusii teachers go drink "Murisk" (the charcoal looking) delicious milk. Some will go enjoy fish and when they visit their families weekends they have something nice to tell people in their backyard they are learning new things and teaching really well. This is a long process but I'm sure it will work.

Furthermore, some of those Kisii teachers will find out some primary kids in Luoland speak more fluent English than them and the Kipsigis probably will beat teachers in math.

"Are you better than a fifth grader?", that sort of thing.

This will prompt and motivate our teachers to do more research, improve on the craft, and be disciplined instead of getting drunk in their backyards and wasting time while eroding level of education Gusii.

Teacher's Seminars:

Let us develop ways teaschers in Gusiiland attend teachers' seminars in Maseno, Kisumu, Kakamaega, etc just to learn something new. Let them attend primary school teachers' conferences held at Kericho Teachers College and beyond.

Yes, we can hire buses we ferry them there then come back pick them they can sleep in dormitories and be fed in dining halls. I want our teachers to learn and be serious with teaching. Learn something new from outside.

Also, when they travel outside they will be forced to use English and (Ki) swahili since all the seminars will be held in English and I want each one of them particiapate through group discussions, presentations, and be awarded with some certificate from the District for participating successfully.

This will be very motivating since no one can be promoted to become an Headmaster unless they show academic credentials, seminar participations, and leadrship credibilities through all these small things organised collectively.

Maternity Leaves:

Any teacher having a child is given a month to two months to go rest but if they gonna be having children twice a year there is no break from school. They are given two weeks only!

By doing this you discourage long school absenteeism that has rocked the academic boat. If you gonna choose teaching as your profession plan your life well ahead. It is not very fair every nine months you want to go home for three months. This affect young school kids you are teaching in lower classess. Once they get accustomed to their teachers and things keep changing that's not nice.

Disciplinery Action:

Drunkards will be delt with mercilessly and accordingly and if it persists some of these teachers need to be transferred to Marssabit, Moyale, and Lodwar Districts where there is no "changaa", "busaa", and such. If they drink there in schools the local warriors will show up on their doorstep with bows and arrows.

This is serious business!

Any teacher found seducing a primary kid in school beyond reasonable doubt should face the music from the District level. Records of misbehaviour should be documented and the files forwarded for future reference should they need promotions, pay increament,etc.

If the school inspectors run into any school children going to the shops send by teachers they should drive them back and call an open school parade with the teacher brought in front and the headmaster must act quickly by calling the parents school committee and embarass those teachers and such records should be in the books!

2) Local Churches:

The school committee should find ways to work with the local SDA, PAG, Anglican, and such Pastors, Priests in Parishes, and any other religious affiliation in their respective neighbourhoods. The men and women of the cloth will help tremendously and in many ways through faith, promoting education, and ensuring the right things are done within their communities.

This is all in partnership.

3) Local Leaders:

District Education Officers, Divisional Officers, the Local Chiefs, Sub-chiefs, Administration Police(APs), Headmasters,Village Elders, and neighbourhood watchers should work in partnership with the parents and the school administration to make sure the right things are done without favoritism, nepotism, and with discipline.

4) Pupils:

Parents must know what their children are doing. Parents don't need Phds to know their children are performiong poorly in school. Parents must report any mischievousness they suspect, detect, or discover to the local authorities for quick action before the milk spill.

5) Teachers:

Any teacher who see anything unusual and is willing to share the lines of communication to the higher authorities should be wide open.

Remember it is all in partnership.

Any female teacher who sense some male teacher is "using" young girls should take matters into her own hands and report the matter quietly and for quick action. Any misbehavooiur will be in the record books through partnership and discipline is the order of the day!

Wananchi, this may sound improbable but I surely feel we can achieve our goal if we also work in partnership in the Diaspora. Let us keep the ball rotating forward through sharing of ideas and discussing this with further research.

The lines of communications are wide open.

Have a nice day!

Mr Steve M.Gekara
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"Asiye na mwana haeleki jiwe!"