Education System

When the 8:4:4 Education System was first introduced in Kenya it seemed to work wonders. Primary students were able to cook food, mend and repair their own clothing. They were able to knit sweaters and make dresses including petticoat. Home science was my favorite subject, I couldn’t wait to attend the next class and practice what my teacher had taught me. Truly this was an amazing country.

The 8:4:4, Education System that was loved

The initial intention of the 8:4:4, Education System was to equip the student with practical knowledge that endeared them with parents. They were taught and assessed on the basic practical fundamentals that enabled them to live in a family unit. ‘I was taught how to cook a cake and ever since, I love doing the same. I can cook for myself without strain. I was practically taught how to wash different types of fabrics and how to dry them.’

The Education System enabled those who never proceeded with their education to be self employed and reliant. Parents never had major problems with their children.

 Constant changes in the 8:4:4, Education System perfects the art of memorizing to pass

The ideal situation for any Education System is to ensure that one learns to think and acquire knowledge that will be of beneficial use to him and others, now and in the future. The current Education System is stressful to the student since it only trains them to memorize subjects in order for them to pass and advance to the next level. It succeeds in putting pressure on the students.

Most students, who advance to Institutions of higher learning, find it very difficult to adjust to fit in the Education System of critical thinking. They are used to the system of memorizing and this increases the level of pressure. This means that pressure will continue mounting even at their work places. Could this be a possibility, why young people today find it difficult staying in one job for long?

Critical thinking is a very vital tool for any current and future engagements and endeavors. We can not have a qualified Medical doctor or Engineer who can not apply critical thinking in their work spaces. It would be disastrous if they’d apply only memory in areas that have conflicting or similar presentations and require diagnosis that involves critical thinking.

8:4:4, Education System has undergone several changes, sometimes removal of necessary or important subjects and heaping or overburdening students with subjects least useful in their future assignments.

Should we embrace an Education System that encourages talent development?

Most youngsters grow up to their mid twenties before they discover that they are talented in a particular field. It has been very challenging for Parents who push their children to acquire specific knowledge in order for them to be in certain preferential professions. These kids sometimes end up becoming rebellious and opt to choose another field of their interest even after completion of the initial course.

The 8-4-4 Education System has been with us since 1985, those who underwent through the system are now parents who are ill equipped to handle their children. Situations where a parent advocates for a particular area of specialization and a child another are very common resulting to un necessary conflicts.

Our Education System does not nature talents, talents that are viewed unfavorably are discouraged by parents, and the children have no place to turn to for redress if one finds himself in this kind of situation.

An Education System that would encourage students to identify particular areas of interest from early age would be important in child development. An Education System that includes and emphasizes on extra curricula activities is needful.

All concerned parties i.e. parents, the Education Ministry and other interested parties should urgently and seriously come together and draft an Education System that fulfills the dreams of Vision 2030, otherwise it will be an exercise in futility to have a vision and the ones expected to fulfill it do not know what to do. Most are frustrated from looking for the exclusive job opportunity and they are not equipped to start a business of their own. Seriously something should urgently be done on our Education System

An Education System, once good but with flaws now

When the 8:4:4 Education System was first introduced in Kenya it seemed to work wonders. Primary students were able to cook food, mend and repair their own clothing. They were able to knit sweaters and make dresses including petticoat. Home science was my favorite subject, I couldn’t wait to attend the next class and practice what my teacher had taught me.

The 8:4:4, Education System that was loved

The initial intention of the 8:4:4, Education System was to equip the student with practical knowledge that endeared them with parents. They were taught and assessed on the basic practical fundamentals that enabled them to live in a family unit. ‘I was taught how to cook a cake and ever since, I love doing the same. I can cook for myself without strain. I was practically taught how to wash different types of fabrics and how to dry them.’

The Education System enabled those who never proceeded with their education to be self employed and reliant. Parents never had major problems with their children.

 Constant changes in the 8:4:4, Education System perfects the art of memorizing to pass

The ideal situation for any Education System is to ensure that one learns to think and acquire knowledge that will be of beneficial use to him and others, now and in the future. The current Education System is stressful to the student since it only trains them to memorize subjects in order for them to pass and advance to the next level. It succeeds in putting pressure on the students.

Most students, who advance to Institutions of higher learning, find it very difficult to adjust to fit in the Education System of critical thinking. They are used to the system of memorizing and this increases the level of pressure. This means that pressure will continue mounting even at their work places. Could this be a possibility, why young people today find it difficult staying in one job for long?

Critical thinking is a very vital tool for any current and future engagements and endeavors. We can not have a qualified Medical doctor or Engineer who can not apply critical thinking in their work spaces. It would be disastrous if they’d apply only memory in areas that have conflicting or similar presentations and require diagnosis that involves critical thinking.

8:4:4, Education System has undergone several changes, sometimes removal of necessary or important subjects and heaping or overburdening students with subjects least useful in their future assignments.

Should we embrace an Education System that encourages talent development?

Most youngsters grow up to their mid twenties before they discover that they are talented in a particular field. It has been very challenging for Parents who push their children to acquire specific knowledge in order for them to be in certain preferential professions. These kids sometimes end up becoming rebellious and opt to choose another field of their interest even after completion of the initial course.

The 8-4-4 Education System has been with us since 1985, those who underwent through the system are now parents who are ill equipped to handle their children. Situations where a parent advocates for a particular area of specialization and a child another are very common resulting to un necessary conflicts.

Our Education System does not nature talents, talents that are viewed unfavorably are discouraged by parents, and the children have no place to turn to for redress if one finds himself in this kind of situation.

An Education System that would encourage students to identify particular areas of interest from early age would be important in child development. An Education System that includes and emphasizes on extra curricula activities is needful.

All concerned parties i.e. parents, the Education Ministry and other interested parties should urgently and seriously come together and draft an Education System that fulfills the dreams of Vision 2030, otherwise it will be an exercise in futility to have a vision and the ones expected to fulfill it do not know what to do. Most are frustrated from looking for the exclusive job opportunity and they are not equipped to start a business of their own. Seriously something should urgently be done on our Education System