Uganda must rebuild her education system

By Charles Okecha
 
China ’s 30 years of miracle economic growth and development into the world’s second economy is not a haphazard phenomenon but a consequence of   the foundation laid by Confucius (Kung Tzu). He said, “To harvest for a year, plant a seed; for 10 years plant a tree; and for 100 years teach the people”.

Though such scientific thinkers blundered by denying the existence of  God and spirit beings,  they helped mankind to settle many myths and explore the creative abilities God endowed them with. He emphasised mathematical and science subjects, because such subjects stimulate thinking and discovery. They enable us to understand principles that operate in our natural environment like physics: speed, acceleration, elasticity, tension, gravity, force, radiation, refraction, sound and many others.

Chemistry: PH, inionisation and  chain reactions.   Biology: reproduction, genes, mutation etc. This leads to discovery of means to tackle challenges in our environments associated with those principles. Science subjects are not just for good jobs as Ugandans seem to  perceive but to stimulate research and innovation. Quite amazing that we have very few research scientists as if they are the only ones who do practicals.

In computer science, for example, unless you understand the  principles governing the world wide web  laid down by the CERN scientist, Tim Berners Lee, and  practically prove them  you might be tempted to think that the internet is something from another planet.
 
This does not imply that subjects like history are not important. History helps us to recall past events and challenges and how necessities in particular situations stimulated invention and innovation. Though social sciences help us to understand human behaviour, settle conflicts and perform medical psychotherapy, they are often times about past events like the holocaust, which occurred only once.

Geographical locations of places can never be altered. But each day we do things related to biology, physics and biology. Ugandans got many things wrong in the first place to an extent that  appointments in the  Ministry of Education, which should have been  hotly contested are left to politicians who appoint their favourites.

Education which is the mother of all leadership, should be handled with an understanding of purpose to build a wholesome curriculum. A few weeks  back, for example, I highlighted about the role of sports  in individual and national development, and urged government to revisit it. We see that a Barcelona Team footballer Lionel Messi gives more fame to Argentina  than its president, and  in fact more famous than  Ban Ki Moon or the  Pope. Pele and Maradona have engraved their countries in the minds of many generations.
 
Subjects are now taught in schools without understanding of their  purpose. O’Level mathematics for example was diluted from Alternative S and Additional mathematics  to make them passable because students were failing. Calculators are being used in senior one! Yet this is the time children must exercise their brains with patience and critical thinking to solve problems.

Those with excellent  skill should  be given separate papers to sit with a particular grading system, while those with less skills can build their confidence by first solving easy numbers. Quick thinkers will grow up with the positive attitude that they are the solutions to difficult problems and situations and become inventors. The corruption we see now is not only a consequence of moral decay but also a poor educational system that makes people think that failing is  absolutely bad.  

This teaches children that the end justifies the means and has increased the leaking of exams. They strive to  be promoted quickly whether they pass or fail. Repeating classes causes children to be challenged to work harder and also to exercise patience. Many times we make proper decisions after failing first.
 
Another point of controversy is that while schools in primary, secondary  and tertiary institutions are examined by a centralised government body (UNEB), universities and some tertiary institutions are not. In the past this wasn’t a problem when we had only Makerere University. But now that universities have mushroomed under every tree, it is important that the Government looks into this matter.

Do doctors, engineers, electricians, plumbers, nurses etc from all these institutions have the same level of  competence? Why is it that similar  methods of research and report writing are used being for  UACE, diplomas and degrees? Are those master degrees and PHDs really genuine without a centralised examining like Uganda National Universities Examinations Forum (UNUEF) in place? Buildings are collapsing every now and then, patients are dying  due to negligence and incompetence of medical practitioners and no one cares! Don’t Ugandans have brains to think?
 
Another keynote fact is that infrastructures in  public schools countrywide, whether located  in the city,  other urban centres or in rural areas are in a very pathetic state. The earlier generations who built these schools whether dead or alive should be wondering.

Buildings constructed of asbestos several decades  back have broken window panes, louvers, dilapidated walls and ceilings, dusty and not painted at all.  Furniture is only replaced through donations from continental or international organisations  like ADB who  purchase  these locally produced items for schools.  Yet these  very schools groomed  present day day professionals and politicians! To be fair, the burden of their renovation and reconstruction shouldn’t be left to the Government and donors alone.
 
Private schools which  should have provided a yardstick for evaluation and reinvigoration of public schools are instead making money. Parents including those in the education ministry have withdrawn their children from  public schools.  

Talented children of low income earners  are denied the opportunity to to get high grades, obtain government sponsorship and ultimately pursue crucial professional careers, thus maintaining the income gaps and disparities. To bolster government efforts in the education sector,  all Ugandans need to play a role  in the fight against  this infrastructural poverty.  No matter what individuals may earn or possess  infrastructural poverty is a reproach to us all. Bad roads and pot holes kill the rich and poor alike.
 
We must develop and  inculcate a culture of benevolence, collective responsibility and reciprocity, to honor and give back where we have benefited. Through schemes like Old Students Associations,  contributions  should be made towards renovation or expansion of classroom blocks, dormitories, labs,  games facilities, computers, furniture and generators among others.

Let us take a look at private schools. They pay salaries to teachers as well as funding  day to day activities all from fees collections yet they can afford to build infrastructure.
 
One thing I have learnt about donors is that it  is inherent in their culture to give towards a cause.  Many of them sacrifice meals and pleasure to help the needy. This mindset was implanted in them by  leaders like late American president  J.F. Kennedy.  He said to the Americans: “Do not ask what  America can do for you but what you can do for your America ”. Americans esteem those who create jobs and  pay taxes more than  those who work in government and  survive on taxed money.  

In fact taxes should not be a burden at all. They are a medium   for executing collection responsibility towards  development, security and general welfare of the citizens of a country. Corrupt officials,  therefore, are traitors who betray their country and people. They are like devious youth who connive with thieves to rob their home so as to quickly get a share of what their parents have.
 
I am not a pessimist but basing on the biblical the golden verse, “He who is faithful in little things will be faithful in much”, I marvel at the fuss about oil revenue when already constructed schools are left to collapse.  This evergreen country  is folding hands like a harlot and waiting for donors to  give her food, shelter and clothing! Fellow Ugandans, let us wake up!
 
The writer is an ICT  Private Practitioner and Teacher at St. Paul ’s College, Mbale.