Inappropriate Syllabus in Our Education.
Today, Thursday, 26th of October 2006, i wanna trash our education system (not only the 8-4-4 system but also the old system). As am writting this, form fours are doing their final year exams (i wish them the best wishes) while our good dons are on strike demanding salary increment. Here are the subjects and things that must be overhauled and reviewed to match with our current generation. These subjects subject us to full dilemma: Geography, History and CRE. I know majority of us here passed through this. They are conflicting in one way or the other.
History vs CRE: The first lesson in the morning is History. We were taught that man e
volved through a series of stages: Homo sipilis, homo erectus, homo sapiens (the current man), there are even others called zinjathropus, kenyapithecus... historians should arrange them in order. In CRE: God created man and send him to the world (courtesy of eating the 'forbiden fruit'-- i dont know this fruit!) and told them to multiply and filled the world. It brings some confusion of which we dont know the origin of man (i believe in what the Bible tells us).
Still in Histo
ry, now its about the discoveries. We were told that, the first European to set foot in Africa starting with the Portuguese voyager, Vasco Da Cama, then the missionaries like Dr. Livingstone, Dr. Krapf, Dr. Speke, the list is endles. Some of their discoveries are Cape of Good hope (now Cape Town), L. Rudolf (L. Turkana), L. Albert, Mt. Kenya, L. Victoria, etc. The issue here is: how can somebody discover a place where there were human beings? Things like this should not be taught in school. Its part and parcel of neo-colonialism.
Geography and CRE: In Geography; earth (planets) was formed when molten particles falling off from the sun gathered through gravitational force and solidify (i dont know the formation of the sun). But in CRE (Biblical point of view) , God created the earth.
My fellow bloggers, we are in 21st century (computer age, dot com generation). Relevant things (lemmie not say subjects) should be taught in our schools. Some of the relevant things are as follows:
1. In history, our children should learn how industrialised nation are where they are. How Stalin made Russia a super power? What was his policies in the 5 year development plans? How about the US. Why did it not participated in the first World War? What was the people like Wilberight and his brother thinking when they made the first aircraft? How about Bill Gates with his windows and micro-chips? And many other science discoveries.
2. In Geography, the core thing should be human geography. What is the need of studying physical geography? What is the benefit of knowing the formation of rocks, Rift Valley, volcanic mountains n so on. The thing that should be taught is the types of rocks, that there is Rift valley (it is beyond our knowledge how it was formed, only God knows).
By scrapping some unnecessary items, we will reduce the bulk in our studies. Core subjects should be highly emphasized. The subjects which are relevant to the economic growth (like science and information technology). I dont see the reason why professionalism should not be induced in our students right from the high school. Currently, the main challenges is the economy.
4 comments:
well history is important. but we need to define what is our history as well as what needs to be taught
Also idealy, some of these subjects should be optional so that only interested students can take them
I agree with AQ on the subjects being optional. I, for one, LOVED physical geaography. Completely. And I would have hated it had it not been given. And although I did not end up a geologist or something like that where physical geog applies, I still enjoy some of the stuff I learnt back then.
I agree with the idea that subjects in school should be relevant to today's events and issues. The content is important and it must also be in the right context (how can school children in Kenya be taught that some british asshole 'discovered' our country? Our history should be taught from our point of view). Also, teachers impose their own bias in the lessons. I remember a CRE teacher who had some kind of vendetta against the church some of our families belonged to. Funny thing is she professed to be a Christian but would talk trash about other denominations.
@AQ: History is important, but we should look at its relevancy. Only things that can make us change for the better economic performance should be taught.
@egm: I agree with u, some physical geography are good, but some are irrelevant..what is the need of studying the origin of planets? Does anyone beats God on that?
@girl next door: U said the truth. Some teachers take advantage to attck other churches. In Kenya we have different churches like Catholics, protestants, 7th day adventist, etc n not forgetting our Muslim, Hindus and others. Teachers shuld neutral on this, hence they might create animosity.
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