Rioting Kenyan Schools. Blame the system?

A few years back a pal of mine was proud to say that he was a former student of upper hill high school. Upperhillians, he said were students who let their hair grow a little too long, and preferred non-physical sports like soccer and basketball to rugby. That was back when upper hill was a day school. Now upper hill is known for sodomy and pyromaniacs. Now he hangs his head in shame whenever the school is mentioned.

Over 200 kenyan schools have gone on strike in the last month. The studnets who initially refused to sit for mock exams did so because they found out that the examinations council had been using the mock grade as the final grade for students who they suspected of cheating. Some students who had planned on cheating then resolve dthe best way was to avoid sitting for mock exams. But now what began as a few students refusing to sit for mock exams has now become a full scale protest against the education system.

450,000 students sit for class 8 exams yet only 15,000 get into affordable universities after high school. 99.97% of students who enrolled in primary school will not get a degree and the chance of a better life. As a result parents and teachers will do anything to push thier kids to success. Beatings, holiday tuition, deprving them of a fun childhood.

We need more state universities. We need private universities to offer full scholarships to bright students so that they become recognisable. We need the pressure to pass with exceptional grades to reduce. We want students who read to learn, not students who are drilled for exams.