Moi goes down in history as great African educationist

Former President Daniel arap Moi goes down in African and Kenyan history as the founder and patron of several learning instituitons, which include Moi University, Moi Educational Centre, Moi High School Kabarak, Sunshine Secondary, and Sacho Primary and Sacho Secondary schools.

Moi was a statesman whose philosophy was peace, love and unity.

These were drawn from the Biblical fruits of the Holy Spirit.

His famous quote: “Siasa mbaya ni maisha mbaya, na siasa komavu ni maisha bora (bad politics leads to bad life, but progressive politics to leads to quality lives)” has since come to pass.

As one national newspaper once said: "Moi may not have studied politics at anyone's university, but he has proved himself a real "professor of politics".

Moi goes down in history as an educationist who changed the 7-4-2-3 system (seven years of primary, four years of lower secondary (form 1 -4), two years of upper secondary (form 5-6), and three years of university) and replaced it with 8-4-4.

Experts said the 7-4-2-3 system lacked the capacity and flexibility to respond to the changing aspirations of individual Kenyans and the labour market needs, in terms of new skills and technologies, and the attitude to work.

Moi listened, and supported the introduction of a new system which has been embraced by South Sudan.

The 8-4-4 system of education was introduced in January 1985, following the Mackay Report of 1982.

Its backers argued that the 8-4-4 policy arose out of the concerns that a basic academic education might lack the necessary content to promote widespread sustainable (self) employment.

Therefore, the 8-4-4 policy emanated from the assumption that it would equip pupils with employable skills thereby enabling school graduates at all levels to be either self-employed or to seek employment.

As if to mark the end of an era, the 8-4-4 system is being replaced by the 2-6-3-3-3 education system.

The primary goal of the new 2-6-3-3-3 education system is to fill the gap of making students ready for the employment world which the 8-4-4 system has so far failed to achieve.

But as millions pay their last respect to Mzee Moi, no doubt that most of them are either 8-4-4 products or morally and spiritually mentored by the former President. 

Onwonga Yabesh, Moi University alumni.