READERS' CORNER: Change in our education system must yield results
Change in our education system must yield results
by Collins Odhiambo
Change, being the only constant thing in life, is always with us. It is upon us even now, for in just a few weeks, 8-4-4 shall stand overhauled and a new system of education installed in its stead.
The pronouncement of the change itself, of course, is not something to excite the mind; the fact that we stand on the verge of change is the matter of interest here.
I note in passing that both the eagerness to stir up things and genuine dissatisfaction with the state of circumstances are foundations of perturbation and, ultimately, change, in social affairs.
This leads me to the question: What exactly warrants this change in the Kenyan education system? Are we merely eager to stir up things? Are we genuinely dissatisfied with things as they are?
In these very pages, and elsewhere, much has been said about why we should overhaul 8-4-4 and why we do not really need to do that. Mine, therefore, is a new dimension in this discourse, one far removed from the said do-or-don’t dichotomy.
Mr Stephen Mutie, in his piece entitled ‘Majorie Oludhe, your literary lamp shines on’ (Saturday Nation, December 10, 2016), reminds us of Margaret Mead’s words: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world…” It is in the spirit of these words that I seek to speak for literature.
For the record, mine is genuine dissatisfaction with realities in literature under 8-4-4. Literary practice, in which I have engaged in diverse fora, takes me to the verdict that things cannot remain the way they are.
Poor engagement with texts is a deeply serious reality. However simple, straightforward or intriguing a text or a piece of information may be, rarely, very rarely, will you witness a deep, dynamic and admirable engagement emblematic of immersion in literature and fine education in general.
Second, there is scant acquaintance with formal perspectives. Perspectives are the tools of literary dissection, and commitment to any set of these is what yields robust discourse.
Third, expressive capacity is low. This observation is very easy to rationalise. Take only a cursory look at our speaking culture. It is poor. It is confused. It is as if our generation is on the receiving end of some retribution for misadventure in our equivalent of the Tower of Babel. Needless to say, literary engagement thrives where there is felicitous expression, which, I repeat, is very rare around here.
Fourth, our notions on realities manifest an amazing absence of complexity and its attendant beauty. Pursuit of propositions to their logical conclusion, for example, is an exercise about which we can only marvel, if ever we do, when we see it in the written history of human thought. Fads have infiltrated and adulterated intellectualism; frivolity has supplanted reason and logic in the affection of the mind.
Additionally, literature, as an academic discipline, is not enjoying the benefit of incisive and fascinatingly perceptive minds that it basically needs. In plain terms, for one reason or another, few first-rate minds elect to pursue this study; hence those that find themselves here hardly inspire promise, the promise of outstanding attainment in literature some day.
In conclusion, my assumption as I await the proclamation of the deserved change is that a good job has been done in the review process. The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development cannot have been labouring completely outside of these key concerns in the literary discipline. In a decade or two, we shall be looking back to this point in time; if literature will be lacking in beauty and profundity, we shall write here still. We shall offer the verdict that the change was in vain, a mere eagerness to perturb and disturb the state of circumstances.
The writer is the president of Alyp Writers Organisation and author of The Bell Ringer and Miss Pheromone
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Join a group if you want to grow as an artist
by Daniel Many
One chilly Saturday in early 2013, artists from different parts of Uasin Gishu County gathered at FHOK hall in Eldoret town to discuss what they termed as “the way forward for Eldoret artists.”
Moderated by the award winning actor Simon Oyatsi Odhiambo, the meeting deliberated on ways to make an artist grow, both in terms of content and stage delivery. I had the privilege of attending this gathering. Other artists present were Elmi Mohamed Dhicisow, a Somali poet who was residing in Edoret then, Prof Langat Chebelyon, a poet working as an editor for Utafiti Foundation, Michael Ochoki, a rapper, Oyoo Mboya and Pius Wafula Khisa, (the two are the founders of Monthly period poetry event at Moi University), Rachel Stephanie, a spoken word artist, and Elena Kimaru, a creative writer and fashion designer, among many others.At the end of the meeting, the artists agreed to form a group which was later named ‘The Gathering.’ It is this, ‘Gathering’ that opened up many opportunities for Eldoret artists to hone their skills. They organised literary workshops every month where an artist’s work was discussed and put under scrutiny and criticism. It is this ‘Gathering,’ under the umbrella Eldoret Poets Association (EPA), that organizes poetry events, ‘One-Night Stand’ in Eldoret town every month. It also stages ‘The Coffee Spoken Word’ and ‘Monthly period poetry’ at University of Eldoret and Moi University respectively. From ‘The Gathering’, we have seen artists grow tremendously. WEN, an afro-fusion singer whose songs are now being played on our leading radio stations, nurtured her talent by attending ‘The Gathering’ workshops. Ordinary Mind, a poet who was this year shortlisted for the Nyanza Literary Festival award and emerged second under the poetry category, honed his skills at ‘The Gathering.’It is hard for an artist to grow if he decides to work on his own. On the other hand, it is a lot easier for an artist to grow if she or he belongs to a certain group. It may be a book club for budding writers, or a musical band for an up-coming singer. It is from a group that an artist can get to compare notes with other artists of similar genre. He or she will get to watch or read other people’s work. It is hard to evaluate your own work. If you join a group, then you will not only get your work evaluated by other artists who understand better but you will also get a lot of encouragement form your fellow artists.So as you enter a New Year, make an effort to join a literary group. In Nairobi, there are many literary workshops almost on a weekly basis. We also have hundreds of literary groups online. It is from these workshops that an artist can jump from one level of creativity to another. I wish you a poetic New Year.
The writer is the founder of Eldoret Poets Association. [email protected]
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Why leaders should pen their memoirs
by Vincent Ndege Maosa
Biographies and autobiographies are important literary genres. Through books, key personalities reveal their life stories, capturing the crucial decisions and events that shape a nation’s history. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga released his book The Flame of Freedom about his life from childhood to his political struggles that secured him a seat in the inner sanctums of power. During the launch of Raila’s book, former Nigerian president Olesugon Obasanjo, who was the chief guest, said: “You deprive the future generation a lot when you refuse to write a book. It is good for posterity.” Kalonzo Musyoka heeded Obasanjo’s call. Nation newspaers exclusive serialisation of Kalonzo Musyoka’s memoir, Against all Odds, offers Kenyans a glimpse into the former vice president’s political career spanning three decades. Of interest to Kenyans is Musyoka’s role in the wake of the 2007 disputed presidential election that resulted in deadly clashes. His defiance to then President Moi’s choice of Uhuru’s Kenyatta as Kanu’s flagbearer in 2002 had far-reaching political implications. Kenyans would love to hear more from prominent politicians. In this respect, Moi and Kibaki should consider gifting us with their memoirs.
The writer is a banker based in Nanyuki. [email protected]
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Private holiday teaching: More debate needed
By Denis Otiende
The intervention of the Education ministry in issues concerning holiday coaching is well intentioned. However, there lies a thin line between holiday coaching and parents genuinely engaging known teachers for private coaching of their children. Most parents I’ve talked to mention this ever long holiday as the reason why private coaching may not die at all. The working parents have no time except weekends to be with their children thereby seeing teachers in the neighbourhood as a solution to their problems. The basic education Act talks of full classroom teaching and therefore to believe that private assistance to students is wrong is a misconception. A parent deciding to engage some teachers to assist his/her children in weak areas is not a violation of any constitutional provision. On the other hand, teachers forcing parents to engage in holiday tuition by use of threats must not be encouraged. Denis Otiende, Kisumu
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Rebellion spells doom for literature
by Nobert Oluoch Ndisio
An anti–establishment wave is sweeping across the globe. Socially, it’s manifested in the silent war pitting millenials and the X generation against the elderly. In politics, this wave has occasioned the election of the least expected leaders to political offices. And it’s what informs the determination of the youth to take over the economic reigns of their nations. The language of this wave is defiance and protest. All this is very good but only until a keen observer sees this wave rear its head in literature.
Listen to all the unkind things authors and literary enthusiasts say about literary critics and you’ll know the wave has found its way into our literature. Haven’t literature dons in our universities been called deadwood? Haven’t they been told how, being theorists, they have become irrelevant to a world that only has ears for people who practically do things — inventors and innovators? Is it really true that most literary critics have in our age become unnecessary noise makers? Is it true that they write commentaries on books they have not read? Is it true that there is an over-abundance of literary critics?
Those who ride on this wave are propagating a lie that all the literary scholars in our universities are caught in a time warp. They are unwavering in their support of self-publishing. They are persuaded that social media is the new literary hub that has overtaken traditional book publishing. They could be right and the rest of us wrong. They are, however, conceited in their misguided attempt to wish away the fact that traditional publishing is where quality and standards reside.
Time is ripe for deep reflection on the aftermath of this wave. It’s time literary practitioners came up with a working counter-strategy. Literary critics should pay attention to the murmurs about how some of them are guided in their trade by subjectivity, and not objectivity. They should not rest easy in the face of indications that ‘soft’ internet criticism is encroaching the space of traditional ‘ruthless’ criticism. When Gloria Mwaniga wonders whether internet is the death of objective literary criticism (Saturday Nation, December 3, 2016), literary critics need to urgently come up with a convincing unequivocal answer. Not silence.
The writer is a teacher and an author in Migori County. [email protected]
