Moi leaves major footprints in the education sector

The late former President Daniel Arap Moi is credited for his role in education sector that saw expansion of institutions of learning from basic to higher education.

During his tenure, major changes were realised in the sector including the shift from the 7-4-2-3 system inherited from the colonial government to the 8-4-4 system now being phased out for the new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).

Moi’s ideology of a perfect educational system was to bring down the high walls of inequality that had characterised the education system.

Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi said Moi expanded secondary school opportunities that paved the way for achievement of middle-class economy that Kenya is today.

“This fact is significant because in order to attain middle income status any society requires at least 25 per cent of its population to have post-secondary education,” Mr Muriithi said.

Growth of universities

And by 1983, a technical team was set up resulting in establishment of a second public university - Moi University.

And two years later, Kenyatta University was established and later on Egerton University, which was a constituent college of the University of Nairobi.

National Association of Private Universities Owners attributed growth of private universities to Moi.

“When he came to power in 1978, he found a higher education sector saddled by a colonial hangover, and muffled by a retrogressive school of thought. The University of Nairobi, Kenya’s only university then, was reeling with debt. Moi rolled out a four-year development plan with a vision for increased enrollment and high transition rates from primary through to secondary and tertiary levels,” said founder of Mount Kenya University Simon Gicharu.

Gicharu explained that Moi set up of commissions which crafted policies with measurable results for the education sector.

“It was also was also during Moi’s reign that Commission for Higher Education, came to be. Moi ordered that the doubling in the number of students admitted through the Joint Admissions Board. At the stroke of his presidential pen, he created places for 3,772 more students. This double intake exposed the challenge of learning infrastructure at public universities,” he said.

Education scholars say although quality of education still remains a great talking point, the quest to enhance access and empower Kenyans, especially the marginalised communities, to acquire education must be credited to the former president.

Prof Egara Kabaji of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology said Moi’s interest in higher education was the driving engine to the huge strides realised in the sector.

“8-4-4 was a noble system but its implementation was flawed. The intention to practical learning was good,” said Prof Kabaji.

Prof Joshua Kwonyike of Moi University said the President’s touch on education matters saw the country register major gains in the sector.

“He once told us that the greatest inheritance you can bequeath your children is a good education. And therefore he wanted all children to access good education irrespective of where they were,” said Prof Kwonyike.

He said the former president dedicated a huge budget to expansion of school infrastructure, which saw all parts of the country construct institutions through community empowerment.

“In almost every constituency there was a school he was involved in construction or one that he pushed the local leadership and community to set up,” he said.

“And therefore you could hear of Moi Primary School, Moi Secondary School, Moi Teachers Training College and Moi University. He had passion for education,” said Kwonyike.

And his passion to empower the girl child was evident in the number of schools he was involved in their establishment. Most named after him.

From Moi Siongiroi Girls, Moi Tea Girls, Moi Minariet Secondary School, Moi High School Kabarak, Moi Girls Eldoret, Moi Girls Kibera, Moi Girls Kibwezi, Moi Equator Girls Nanyuki, Moi Girls Isinya, Moi Kamusinga, Moi Forces Academy, Moi Girls Vokoli, Moi High School Mbiruri in Embu, Moi Girls Nyaboanga in Migori and Moi Girls Nairobi among others.

Executed policies

Prof Obonyo Digolo of the University of Nairobi said former President Moi took education matters with passion and executed policies for the sector with utmost diligence.

He said as former President Mwai Kibaki is remembered for his efforts to improve infrastructure such as roads, Moi is remembered for his role in education.

“Moi was a great enthusiast of education from primary all the way to university,” said Digolo.

He said Moi laid more emphasis on secondary education and this saw many schools constructed in the spirit of Harambee.

“After independence, the fight to end poverty, bad governance and diseases was a major call. And after he took over, former President Moi used education as the gate to accomplishing these goals,” said Digolo.

He said Moi also used religion to expand education. “Today, you see many schools, colleges and even universities under various religious outfits,” he noted.