We must support education, not the positions of our favourite politicians

Some have declared a victory; after all, the teachers are back in class.

They think government won and have urged us to move on to the next hot topic, like who fixed who at the ICC. Others have simply given a sigh of relief, glad that children are back in class and, supposedly, learning.

But behind all these is a very sad reality, the reality of our over-rehearsed ornamental solutions to an education sector that has consistently degenerated into unspeakable crisis and gloom.

The crisis is evident. But like the proverbial ostrich, we bury our heads in the sand. We hope to simply pray away the crisis, like we have unsuccessfully tried with the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Every time teachers strike and return to class humiliated and dejected, they advertently or inadvertently pass the consequences of low morale to students.

LOW MORALE

These students are not aliens from outer space, they are our children and represent our future, the very future we claim to be so invested in.

They are what every decent, self-respecting society invests in.

In the particular cases where teachers have gone on a strike that is judged as legal, just and legitimate and returned empty-handed, the effect on their morale and on our children has been devastating.

The state has, however, maintained an arrogant, contemptuous and dismissive attitude towards almost all institutions in this country except the Executive and Legislature.

In the case of teachers, government has dithered and changed positions carelessly; it has cajoled and threatened teachers and, quite frankly, treated them like trash. It has done everything but offer commensurate compensation for teachers.

The value the state places on education is low, the budgetary allocation notwithstanding.

POLITICS OF IGNORANCE

Education is not a sector where you throw money and hope that translates into standards.

Money is important, but it is only a starting point. The state holds teachers in utter contempt but pretends to love our children very much.

The state holds two divergent positions. You cannot demonstrate repeatedly your contempt for teachers and expect that to somehow translate into love for the pupils.

In fact, government only loves children as entertainers during political functions, and the teachers for ensuring that such entertainment is spiced with a poetry that massages the over-extended ego of politicians.

As a society, we are also generally guilty of supporting a politics of ignorance, illiteracy, mediocrity, pettiness and sideshows.

We speak more about people, mainly politicians, whose value for our collective wellbeing is nil, rather than adopt positions that advance us beyond simply aping politicians.

That is why we talk more about Moses Kuria than about some of the bearers of standards in our society.

We regrettably support the positions of our preferred politicians on education rather than supporting education itself.

In focusing on the petty and the sideshows, we have consequently legitimised the treatment our politicians dish out to teachers.

THE POWER TO CHANGE

But shortly afterwards, we chorus and feign ignorance about poor standards in education when local organisations, like Uwezo Kenya, confirm this rather obvious outcome of our politics.

As a society, we collectively are responsible for affirming the arrogance the state exhibit towards teachers.

We sanction the death of analysis in our national conversations.

We legitimise rewarding the mediocre while punishing, through under-remuneration, those who ought to be the critical cogs in our development.

If we are going to continue remunerating politicians inordinately more than teachers, Kenyans must stop this silly habit of shedding crocodile tears.

The power to change this situation is in our hands, but we have refused to take action.