Why 8-4-4 system failed its mandate

When the famous Ominde Commission was set up in 1963, it recommended a change in the then education system with an intention to discard its colonial roots and relate it to the actual needs of Kenyan learners.

The recommendation was informed by the view that the system placed much emphasis on vocational subjects. The new system was expected to equip dropouts at whatever level with adequate skills for self-employment or employment in the informal sector. Thus, the new system would promote self-sufficiency among learners by offering ‘purposeful’ education.

However, more than two decades down the line, the 8-4-4 system has been seen as merely a process of imparting information. Learners’ actual knowledge of what they are taught is scanty and can’t help them think outside the box.

The system does not equip leaners to be self-reliant, but promotes dependence. Perhaps, that is why after successful course of training, graduates desperately look for employment instead of creating some or employing themmselves. The system tailors them to think their best option is formal employment. No wonder the rate of unemployment is high.

Talents’ growth

The role of primary school education in setting the foundation for one’s life cannot be gainsaid. It is at this level that talents should be identified and nurtured, but this seems to have been watered down with time, and latent talents have been stunted and others killed. Those who have talents cannot fulfil them as the system does not allow such growth.

With the coming of the proposed new system of education, stakeholders should change approaches to children’s learning. It is high time schools engaged the services of experts to serve as role models for learners at different levels.

We now need more expertise-based career talks than never before at primary and secondary levels to equip learners for proper choice of careers. Also, learners should be advised on what subjects best suit their dream careers.

In identifying the right careers for learners, the role of parents and guardians should not be overlooked. They should be in the forefront to establish what their children are good at and stop condemning schools for poor performance.

Learners should not be forced to pursue careers they don’t have passion for. It is this mistake that has cost lives of ‘failed’ students and teachers and perpetuated exam malpractices.

Actual learning

The greatest undoing for the 8-4-4 system is the value it attaches to passing of exams. Students always prepare to pass exams at the expense of actual learning. That is how their minds have been trained. Failure to excel, you are branded a failure.

No wonder business of selling books that ‘teach’ how to pass exams, past papers, and purported leaked exam papers is booming.

Scientists say there are seven types of intelligence – linguistic intelligence, logical-mathematical and spatial intelligence (picture smart), bodily-kinesthetic intelligence (body smart), musical intelligence, interpersonal intelligence (people smart), intra-persona intelligence (self-smart) and natural intelligence (nature smart).

Unfortunately, the 8-4-4 system concentrates only on the linguistic and logical-mathematical, which combined form ‘book smart’ intelligence.

Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary defines it as having a lot of academic knowledge learned from books and studying, but not necessarily knowing much about people and the real world.

It is time our system stopped rewarding the book smart, where the teaching methodology is abstract and rarely can concepts be married with reality. Children are brought up with the mentality exams are a do-or-die affair and that ‘failures’ don’t deserve being carried shoulder-high in total disregard to their other gifts in other spheres of intelligence.

In nutshell, 8-4-4 is tired, has failed to deliver its ideals, and should be rested.

{Abel Nabutola, Nairobi}

Relocate Mamboleo roadblock, save lives

The Mamboleo area of the Kisumu-Kakamega highway has become an abattoir. A week hardly goes by without a fatal accident, invariably involving heavy commercial trucks, lorries and buses.

I take issue with the traffic policemen whom I blame for the deaths that occur at this spot. Situated at the base of the steep incline is a junction at which the police position their roadblock, oblivious of the dangers this pauses.

Traffic officers should be trained on the dynamics of laden trucks and situations that are potentially dangerous to pedestrians and motorists. They must endeavour to learn the small tell tale signs of trouble from cars and react in time.

Trucks have a propensity to lose brakes while going down steep inclines that warrant constant application to control motion. In the process, ‘air locks’ occur and jam the braking system. Trucks going towards Kisumu negotiate so many bends from the top of the hill that the distance between the last bend and Mamboleo junction is hardly 200m.

Why traffic police officers choose to position a road block at Mamboleo and stop vehicles for cursory checks is anybody’s guess and a sure recipe for disaster. A driver with a failed braking system cannot move between stationary vehicles and police are advised to leave this area clear and open by retreating further down the road to the Railway flyover.

The death toll from the latest accident would have been avoided had there been no road block. I had just passed this spot a few minutes earlier to find a number of vehicles stopped for random checks.

When the driver of the ill-fated lorry came round the bend and saw the packed vehicles, he flashed his lights in the classical ‘danger’ fashion, but the officers manning the roadblock read him wrongly. They refused to remove the spikes, compelling the trucker to ram into stationary vehicles.

My humble request to the traffic commandant is to ask his officers to be pragmatic while on duty. Being pedantic for the sake of it is a danger even to them.

The policemen who lost their lives at Mamboleo junction would be alive today with just a little caution.

The citizens who lost lives would also be alive if they hadn’t been aligned in the path of death by over zealous policemen.

{Alexander Chagema, Kakamega}

Let leaders prioritise national cohesion

The manner Kenyans are divided along political and ethnic backgrounds calls for urgent need for leaders to explore ways of uniting the country.

However, going by the activities being carried out by the country’s top leaders, it is difficult to get one who can go round the country and unite the people and stay away from enthic prejudices. Therefore, any leader who seems to embark on such a noble duty deserves support

Meanwhile, all leaders should be advised to live above party and ethnic politics and strive to demonstrate a servant leadership that the country desperately needs.

National unity and cohesion can also be achieved through the ongoing party alliances if only the unions are all-inclusive. This will ensure leaders elected in the General Election would be national representatives with everyone’s trust.

{Kimaiyo Kiprop, Eldoret}

MP didn’t speak for Lari electorate

After Lari MP David Njuguna unsuccessfully persuaded President Kibaki to back Prime Minister Raila Odinga for presidential contest, there have been rumours Mr Njuguna spoke for Mt Kenya residents or his Lari constituents. But the stand was his and not for a region or constituency.

It was dishonest for Njuguna to prod Kibaki over this matter with full knowledge in his (Kibaki’s) PNU party were aspirants in need of similar favours. Kibaki should anoint a leader of his choice with a keen interest to further his legacy.

Our leaders should learn to consult before making sensitive remarks for national unity and destiny.

{Mwenda Wanene, Lari}

Wrangles are proof of leaders’ power greed

The ongoing war of words and ideologies in ODM party goes to confirm the level of greed and insatiability that our leaders have towards leadership.

The discontent and dissonance causing rifts in the party as a result of Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi’s declaration for interest in the presidency, depicts the real face behind most political parties.

Political parties that are formed on the basis of flimsy political foundations cannot do more than politick instead of serving the voters.

Time is up for political parties that trot around rhetoric instead of delivering on the promises they made to Kenyans during the campaigning periods.

{David Simiyu, Kakamega}