Public uproar over Form 1 selection shows something went awfully wrong

This year’s Form One selection is causing stress to both parents and pupils. I’m a parent whose child scored 422 marks and was admitted to a Nairobi Day school, while my neighbour’s child who scored 290 marks in a public school is admitted to a national school in Kisii. Where is the fairness?

I used to encourage my son to work hard so that he could go to a good public school. He is asking questions I can’t answer: “Dad, where is the good school you kept talking about?” He has sworn not to attend a school with substandard facilities and performance.

I also have a girl in Standard Eight. Now I don’t know what to tell her; certainly not to work hard and score 400.

Is the computer system rewarding those who didn’t work hard and punishing hard work? Let us revert to manual placement.

PATRICK KIMANI, Nairobi

UNCOMPROMISING

It’s unfortunate that a leader can be so uncompromising. I am referring to Education CS Jacob Kaimenyi. Parents and children are openly disappointed and demoralised by the criteria used to allocate Form One slots.

Yet all Prof Kaimenyi cares to say, and obstinately at that, is that the method was fair and equitable. If there is so much outcry, who is it fair to?

Does the CS read the views of Kenyans? A good leader should accept positive criticism, unless, of course, one is autocratic. Whatever the criteria, it should be revisited. Our children need encouragement, not cruelty.

Come the KCSE’s turn, unless there’s intervention from this “fairness” thing, God help our children. Even universities may soon be compromised.
DIVINE KATHAMBI, Kisii