The Standard ­ Friday
Date: 13.01.2017
Page 16
Article size: 201 cm2
ColumnCM: 44.66
AVE: 116133.33
Put more emphasis on
technical training schools
In the midst of thrill and spill, KCSE graduates.
But we slept on the job and were
doom. Indeed, when he released ciety, we are faced by a spectre. No caught pants down. At this rate, we
the KCSE results, Education Cabi­ amount of insanity warrants cele­ risk disenfranchising the young­
net Secretary Fred Matiang'i cap­ bration when such a colossal num­ sters' future.
But, neither should these chaps
tured the imagination of Kenyans. ber of youths lack a clear path to pro­
Social media erupted with accolades ductive lifestyle. We should be afraid be condemned nor treated as fail­
The 2016 KCSE results crowned
the dramatic year with hope and
we should remember that as a so­
that such a huge pool of youngsters ures. If anything, this is a treasure
is released to society neither with a trove that needs to be polished to
The sheer speed of marking and skill nor hope. It is a powdered keg turn around the fortunes of this
secrecy were fascinating. We were that sooner than later will explode
country.
intrigued by the absence of "stupid at us.
This is where technical training
As." More so, we were thrilled that
Sadly, we are talking about ma­ comes in. Sadly, this critical seg­
there was mass failure. Only about ture youths who, if nothing happens ment of education is loathed, is
89,000 of about 600,000 qualified for to change their tangent in the next condemned and in some spaces it
university. Dr Matiang'i had disrupt­ two or so years, they will hit a point is even buried.
for the man.
ed the examination system.
We cheered when technical in­
of no rehabilitation. Girls will get
A watertight examination sys­ pregnant or get married. Boys will stitutions were torn down to accom­
tem bereft of cheating is of course marry or indulge in criminal activ­ modate universities ­ a bad experi­
admirable and a prerequisite for a ities. Such people are unprepared ment that demand urgent reversal.
civilised, ethical and productive so­ to fit in the complex global econo­ We disparaged technical skills so
ciety.
much so that there was no focused
my today.
But, perhaps that is where the
Their only crime is that they live policy towards investment in this
niceties end. At our disposal, is a
in a republic where those charged
Whole generation of hundreds of with their planning seem to be bar­ key sector.
We should therefore embark on
thousands of youth who are star­ ren in strategic thinking.
ing at a bleak future. They are tor­
By now we should have noted an aggressive large­scale and strate­
gic effort of reinvigorating technical
and planned for a population explo­
disaster.
sion experienced today. We should education in the country.
Sadly, we seem to be in want of have also noted that, progressively,
We need to disrupt our education
sound infrastructure and strategy to big numbers were set to miss uni­ system and strongly vouch for tech­
help them fit and be productive in versity spaces.
nical skills to roll side­by­side with
society. Our mid­level colleges will
If we remembered that this coun­ academics.
only absorb a tiny portion of those try is desirous of industrialisation,
with grade C, and the rest? Perhaps then intelligent mechanisms would
it's a case of everyone for himself have been laid to absorb the 2016
mented, confused and fretful. It is a
and God for us all.
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