Kenya: Let 'Unteachable' Children Go Home And Grow Yams

Posted to the web 24 July 2008 Charles Onyango-Obbo Nairobi A few years ago, we were all gathered in our parents' countryside home for the end of year holidays, and one day a heated argument broke out about the quality of education. As a general agreement seemed to be emerging that education had gone to the dogs, our old woman, who had said nothing, got up, and as she walked to her kitchen, said: "You people are making too much of this education issue. Just let the children go and grow up in school." I had never thought of school as a place which, if it didn't offer a meaningful education, was nevertheless a good one for rural children to go to and while away the time as they wait to become minor village officials, join the army, or become chicken thieves if all else failed. In other words, the role of school had changed, and... [read full story]