I had Prof Ongeri say that there will be a stakeholders meeting at KIE soon when he was announcing KCPE results and that the forum would be used to air such views, i guess this would form a nice memorandum, Akich you should be present this in that meeting how i wish Musau Ndunda (hope i spelt the name right was on this list). We have e-learning experts in this country and it is a question of tapping their expertise, the major stumbling bloc is the willingness and priority of our leadership to prioritise the matter, Hon Engineer Rege, maybe the Parliamentary commitee can help out here, what do you say? Regards On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 8:23 AM, Crystal Watley Kigoni < [email protected]> wrote:
The education of the children and youth is quite a serious matter to the future of Kenya. If we continue to do things the same way as they have always been done, we will continue to see the same results. Poverty is the reason why girls cannot afford pads to go to school. It is also a contributing factor on why youth have a hard time studying at night due to the lack of electricity and lighting in their homes. Many brilliant Kenyan minds go to waste every year because they cannot pass a one time test with perfect marks. With B level students unable to receive access to higher education we will continue to suffer as those with the means send their children to excellent private schools who students are guaranteed to be accepted in Western universities. Those with the resources send their children out of the country for higher education and many never return: brain drain.
But that is not to say that there are not bright pupils in the Kenyan school system, I have met some amazing children who if given the opportunities could become our African Einsteins but who had to remain at home because they could not afford the fees and uniforms. The Kenyan government needs to start taking education seriously and realize that our investment in education determines the future of the country. In that frame, ICTs do provide an extremely valuable role in assuring quality education in a number of ways:
1) Schools to utilize ICTs in their administration including:
- proper accounting records of funds managed - student records such as attendance, grade, behavior - teacher records such as educational status, continuing education, payroll - Reports can be sent on a regular basis to the Ministry of Education for monitoring
2) Teachers can utilize ICTs in the following ways:
- researching projects, ideas, and other materials for education - continuing their education online - using ICT as a teaching method - opening their classroom to others virtually
3) Students can learn in infinite ways using ICTs.
- Learning the technical capacity to utilize computers and a variety of software. From basic word processing and report writing to specializes software such as AutoCAD. - Learning about news, global events, and cultures. - Research at the tip of the finger about almost every subject known to man. - Learning to create their own content, their own online persona. - Making friends and connections internationally for both personal and professional growth. - And so much more...
One concrete way that we can allocate funds for the growth of ICTs in schools are to better utilize the funds already in the budget. The budgetary supplement of 6 million shillings per constituency for the bus project can install over 150 computers in schools with Internet access! That is 30 schools with 5 computers each or 15 schools with 10 computers PER CONSTITUENCY.
There is a way... now the same question remains... is there the will?
Many blessings,
Crystal
On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 8:18 AM, Jotham Kilimo Mwale <[email protected]>wrote:
Akich,
"The concept of Continious Assessment is a good one; however, this is likely to experience abuse as a result of dishonesty and corruption going by the tradition of our countrymen and women. The society and its people requires to be morally upright for such useful systems to serve and achieve their set objectives."
The statement above is correct. A solution would be to have schools send samples of the Continuous Assessments to KNEC for moderation. This may be done annually and the samples, which will accompany the submitted marks list, should include those that scored the top, middle and lowest marks. Since we trust the KNEC markers, we can trust them to moderate the CAT samples and award just marks.
Regards,
Jotham
--- On *Thu, 1/7/10, Akich Kwach <[email protected]>* wrote:
From: Akich Kwach <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Re: KNEC giving candidates, parents a raw deal To: [email protected] Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <[email protected]> Date: Thursday, January 7, 2010, 7:34 AM
Dkt Ndemo, Thanks for sharing such well researched facts, it is sad how girls are suffering in the countryside and have to spend many days out of school. MoH should be availing those sanitary towels to school girls just as they are dispensing condoms to prevent HIV/AIDS. The concept of Continious Assessment is a good one; however, this is likely to experience abuse as a
result of dishonesty and corruption going by the tradition of our countrymen and women. The society and its people requires to be morally upright for such useful systems to serve and achieve their set objectives. Thanks also
for throwing light on how ICT will help improve quality of education through e-learning, though it will take long as its implementation depends on other factors such as energy.
This afternoon, I met a man carrying the traditional "mabati box/ suitcase" for boarding school students and after egaging him in a brief chat, it emerged he didn't have a child reporting to form-one / secondary school. He told me he is taking his son to to a private primary school as he can nolonger gamble with the future of his child in a public school. That is how serious the issue is out here. Todate, I have not seen or heard any communication from MoE commiting to look into the crisis in public primary
schools, and they are only telling us that funds are being disbursed to schools; BUT FOR WHAT? Just to balance the books of accounts Or to deliver
quality service? Is Kenya going through mid-life crisis? I guess we have a senior person from the MoE on the list.
Akich Kwach
----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected] <http://mc/[email protected]>> To: "Akich Kwach" <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected] <http://mc/[email protected]>>; "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 07, 2010 3:12 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Re: KNEC giving candidates, parents a raw deal
Akich, I understand your frustration. We need to emulate the British education reforms. Final exams only account for a small percentage. Let me explain the depth of our education problems then show you why we need to change the status quo.
World over, Girls do better than boys between ages 6 and 13. Boys only begin to be competitive after testestron kicks in. In rural Kenya very bright young girls are wasted every year because by 13, they begin their periods and in the absence of sanitary towels, they miss classes between 5 and seven days every month. Obviously their KCPE results come out poor and then we consign them to becoming House Girls in urban centers.
We can change this nonsense with ICT. We need to send end term exam result to a central database. Each school can scan the report card and have it sent to KNEC. We then use the continuous assessment for up to 60% of testing. KCPE will then contribute the 40%. Let us go back to our girls with this model. A girl who performed well up to std. 6 or 7 will need very little marks to pass KCPE.
This model will actually eliminate cheating. It will also save many of our daughters from being condemed for sins that are not of their own making.
I am hoping we get to roll out Digital Villages countrywide in order to provide an e-learning platform that would level the playing field. This will be our little contribution to our education.
Ndemo.
Listeners, Thanks to Dkt Ndemo, Esther, Sam and all who have been contributing to this debate which is of a great national concern. As they say with education; "You are a beneficiary OR affected either directly or indirectly". From the education system, a nation produces men and women who contribute to national development. A portion of the dropouts decides to give the communities a preveiew of life in hell in the name of criminal activities.
Ndemo mentioned issues of teachers being recruited locally, hence a sinking community will continue sinking becauce they don't want to see "foreign teachers". How comes policemen are posted anywhere in the country yet they earn less than teachers (ex-bribery)? Esther's proposal of introducig bridging courses has been a success in private universities and has given opportunities to thousands to build their careers. If Sam's ideas are implemented, we shall have housegirls who are equiped to be trusted with the young ones with basic health standards, cooking and other domestic needs.
This week, I rejected some of the textbooks given to my daughter at a public school in the name of FPE because they were in pathetic conditions and I have buy them myself if she has to learn. To conclude, how many years shall it take us to be near education system like in UK where the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair once said with pride that he went to a public school.
Akich Kwach
----- Original Message ----- From: Sam Aguyo To: [email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Sent: Thursday, January 07, 2010 10:14 AM Subject: Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Re: KNEC giving candidates,parents a raw deal
Listerners,
My view is that we need more of a change of attitude than anything else. Our minds are more of exam driven than the ultimate delivery this happens at all levels and we end up churning out questionable graduates at all levels.
Lets assume at the end of KCPE those who have not made it to form one can be absorbed at training institutions that train nannies, househelps, garden boys etc. Those who have joined form one can sit another exam KJSE and those who have not made it can be trained to be professional something. At form KCSE those who have not made it can also be trained to do something else it goes on and on. This to many sounds outrageous but it may not be far from the reality.
At the speed we are going to have everybody attain university education and end up with a white collar job, am reluctant to be near my brothers and sisters, they are wild since am not doing enough to abtain them a white collar job despite paying fees all the way to university.
Sometimes we need to borrow example this time round from US where people honour all careers and pay for it. By the way with due respect what is the profession of Mr Tiger Woods wife?
Sam
From: Esther Muchiri <> To: [email protected] <http://mc/[email protected]> Cc: Skunk Works <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>>; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>>; ke-users <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, January 6, 2010 8:43:04 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Re: KNEC giving candidates, parents a raw deal
Now that we all agree there is a problem with our 8-4-4 system, especially considering the number of dropouts every year, how about an introduction of 'bridging' courses for those who did not perform so well (due to one reason or another)? I am sure there are many other factors that contribute to poor performance, e.g. panic.
Would it be wrong if some private secondary schools decided to admit those who failed (say 180-250 marks) into form one, but then offer a mandatory 3 month bridging course to bring them at par with the more qualified candidates? This would reduce the number of dropouts, and perhaps give them hope and a chance to complete secondary school. I know universities offer bridging courses - why not high school?
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> [mailto:kictanet-bounces+emuchiri <kictanet-bounces%2Bemuchiri>= [email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> ] On Behalf Of [email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 7:26 PM To: [email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> Cc: Skunk Works; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions; ke-users Subject: Re: [kictanet] [ke-internetusers] Re: KNEC giving candidates, parents a raw deal
Akich, The dynamics of our democratized society are too complex. As a child growing up in rural Kisii we had teachers from different parts of the country. Our people (Kenyans) demanded that we must go local and remove "foreigners". We escalted this foreigner concept to the extent we were in Dec. 2007.
Local teachers now have to finish with their small enterprises before they consider students. Some have to till their shambas first. These are the people we call hard working and we all know about this. There is no passion to teach anymore and when they teach, they do it in venacular. Ministry of education knows about this. The solution is difficult and highly political. Reforms will see at least 50,000 teachers retired. Anybody implementing this kind of reforms would be attacked from all corners including yes parents.
In my view we need to raise the minimum teacher qualification to undergraduate and they work anywhere in the country as any other civil servant. We must tie performance to any pay increase. Atwoli apende asipende.
Just my personal thoughts.
Regards
Ndemo.
Daktari Ndemo, As one of the concerened parents and citizens, I must admit the
can
be sometimes very bitter especially when you compare the qaulifications of public primary school teachers with that of private schools. The disparity is even worse when you look at the rural schools. On the issue of whether we need the KCPE exams, I would request you to pose that question to your couterpart at the MoE Prof Karega and share with us his opinion, whether personal or official.
Cheers and Happy New Year
Akich Kwach
----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>
To: "wesley kirinya" <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>
Cc: "Skunk Works" <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>>; "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>>; "ke-users" <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 1:46 PM Subject: Re: [ke-internetusers] Re: [kictanet] KNEC giving candidates,parents a raw deal
Dear Wesley, No one should fail an exam because we have nowhere to take them if they passed. Already we have B grade students who are not getting into Universiry.
Every year we get similar concerns but no one has ever asked if indeed we need KCPE exams. To date I do not know the objective of this exam. If our promlem just like everybody else is literacy, then we only need the KCSE exams. The assumption here is that by the time someone sits for KCSE, they would be literate and mature enough to consider options. At KCPE level, I am afraid we keep on increasing our illiteracy levels the moment 250,000 fail to proceed further.
In my view we all have failed to analyse this problem objectively. Media keeps on reporting but not analysing the problems. Citizens continue to complain and not making proposals to the Government. The KNUT, parents, politicians have subjected the Ministry into crisis mode instead of reforming the sector. KNUT knows that at least one third of teacheers in Primary Public Schools cannot pass or did not pass KCPE. Then we ask why Private Schools perform better?
Ndemo.
I'm concerned about the hundreds of thousands of students that will miss high school. Last year 250,000 missed it. Over a five year period, this adds up to more than a million, in a country whose population is about 40 million!
Out of those who go to high school, only a handful end up in university. Someone should do a sturdy on the loss to our economy. The government spends lots on money to educate 250,000 people annually who will not get to high school. With our current systems, most of these 250,000 will not get descent employment/stable sources of income. Most of them come from rural areas, which are the areas that need serious development and skilled man-power to drive the development. If I opened a branch of my company in some rural area of Kenya, who will I employ? Even if I employ some people, they would be threatened by the Mungiki-types (children who join gangs in order to extort money)
We need every child in Kenya, willing to go to school, to be able to archieve at least Diploma level. Without that, we should forget vision 2030 and competing with India and other Asian countries! The Chinese will continue building our roads, as Kenyans sweep them with brooms, not even specialized machines!
I would like to bring in a different perspective as to the low performance, which someone mentioned as seriously wrong. What would happen if most students passed their exams, especially now with record numbers enrolling in schools? Where will they go? You would have students with B grades missing high school. That would be a great embrassment to goverment.
If money is available to buy fleets of new cars (which dont really add to our GDP), surely there should be money for better quality of education for our children (which definately adds to our GDP).
This is a national disaster.
O~(
--- On Wed, 12/30/09, Akich Kwach <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>
wrote:
From: Akich Kwach <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] KNEC giving candidates, parents a raw deal To: [email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> Cc: [email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> Date: Wednesday, December 30, 2009, 9:39 AM
Gentlemen, Thanks for sharing your concerns. I would agree with MM and Zachary because KNEC ought to have known every candidate and parents would be interested in getting their results at the earliest hour and should have tested the system's capacity ahead of time. It is sad upto this hour, I spent on SMS three times and no reply yet. If such trends continue, the ICT investments might just be a wate of public funds and citizens might lose faith in the so called e-Govt. I would humbly request the PS, Dr Bitange and the ICT Board to intervene and find out what transpired at the KNEC system.
For the parents who had 2009 candidates, I am concerned with the general national perfomance taking into account that subjects such as SST where candidates usually score high marks recorded poor performance, something is not right somewhere.
WISHING YOU A HAPPY 2010
Akich Kwach
----- Original Message ----- From: "mureithi" <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 6:43 PM Subject: Re: [kictanet] KNEC giving candidates, parents a raw deal
Thanks barrack For the candidate and their family they interacted with the ict system and the interface was the sms and the web. We should not hide behind huge traffic because the phenomena and the time is known and the implications. Another terrible failure is that i and many thousands kenyans paid upfront to the ict system for a service that was not delivered
____________ Muriuki Mureithi Summit Strategies Ltd sent from cellphone
________________ Reply Header ________________ Subject: Re: [kictanet] KNEC giving candidates, parents a raw deal Author: Barrack Otieno <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>
Date: 29th December 2009 12:51
MM,
I guess it's a bit premature to blame the System, the problem stems from how the whole announcement was managed, it was improper for the Ministers handlers to say the results would be available on the site immediately after the speech, with the anxiety that had been going on i'm sure even the best servers might not have handled the hits, no wonder the systems were unable to cope, however this serves as a lesson to KNEC, i am sure they will do better in 2010.
Happy New Year !
On 12/29/09, mureithi <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>> wrote: > > Zachary > This was the great opportunity for the ict system to prove its value > to > our > society. It failed miserably to just serve less than 1 percent of the > population and had to walk to schools. Zain however stood tall and > 2228 > worked. > ____________ > Muriuki Mureithi > Summit Strategies Ltd sent from cellphone > > ________________ Reply Header ________________ > Subject: [kictanet] KNEC giving candidates, parents a raw deal > Author: Zachary Ochieng <[email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]>
> Date: 29th December 2009 09:59 > > > Despite the digitisation of exam results by the Kenya National > Examinations Council (KNEC) and the Ministry of Education, the > platform > doesn't seem to be working. My daughter is one of the candidates who > sat > KCPE in November 2009. But more than two hours after the release of > the > results by Education minister Sam Ongeri, the KNEC website from where > the > candidates are supposed to check their results remains down. Worse > still, > the 2228 no. to which candidates should text their index numbers to > get > results is also not working but continues to consume airtime to
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ truth the
> tune of > Ksh 20 per SMS. If this is not a rip off, then I don't know the > definition, > coming as it does at a time when the ministry is reeling from a theft > scandal. > > One wonders what else the ministry could be hiding. While announcing > the > top candidates, Ongeri never mentioned the names of their schools. But > it is > anyone's guess that majority of them are from private schools. Rather > than > bash the media as he did during the release of the results, Ongeri > should > tell us what is bedevilling FPE. > > Can someone please help? MY daughter has refused to take lunch until > she > gets her results. > > > > --- Be the change you want to see in the world. > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > [email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > This message was sent to: [email protected]<http://mc/[email protected]> > Unsubscribe or change your options at >
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