Kenyan Universities Should Teach Works of Emerging Writers

At what point should a contemporary writer, say, a study of poet Shailja Patel’s work, be introduced in our institutions of higher learning? Why should a university Professor accept to be a judge in a competition of emergent African writers when they do not wish to encourage their works at the university?

Should universities only teach traditional literature?

On getting Down With The Teachers

I'm mad. Livid. Angry beyond words. I will have to be secreted to a facility to prevent serious embarrassment to myself and those around me; I'm on the warpath, armed with the jaw of an ass, bent on Samsonite accomplishment. Let me tell you why. 

First, we now have irrefutable proof that the Government of the African Republic of Kenya is composed chiefly of idiots, psychopaths, failed brains, megalomaniacs and the most hideous liars. 

Secondly, that said government is set, inexorably, on the path to self destruction. Which is shocking: everyone, however severe their intellectual limitations, is endowed with a strong sense of self preservation and even perpetuation. The government, so far as I can see, is the sum of parts, each of which is bereft of that vital sense. Let me calm down a bit and give this thing a little more coherence.        

More from Eric Ng'eno here. 

Sexual Abuse in Schools

In high school, he had sexual relations with at least one girl every year. These were always rumors, and I did not believe them. In fact, I felt sorry for the girls whose names I thought were being smeared. He was my Geography teacher.

Read more.

National Examinations 2007 Results

Nairobi news services are reporting that the 2007 KCSE results are out. Mang'u High School top the rankings, ahead of the Starehe Boys Centre and Precious Girls High School, Riruta.

Loreto Limuru and Limuru Jigh School rounded off the top five, followed in the remaining top ten positions by Nairobi School, Strathmore School, Alliance High School, Sunshine Academy and Light Academy.

As always at this time of the year, the results throw up questions of fairness in the location of the top schools, whether or not the school's reputations are worth it given the results and also whether the tuition fees charged by the top schools to the parents are justified by the outcome of the exams.

Discuss here.

African Leadership Academy

Patience Wanga on why the premise of an African leadership educational institution misses the mark.

Moreover, these top schools have sent kids to Ivy League colleges in the US before, colleges that supposedly churn leaders. I have not heard of any that is turning heads for having put to use the skills and super education received from these famous schools.

Read more here.

Kibaki's Madaraka Day Speech

Read President Kibaki's Madaraka Day speech here.

KCSE

National Schools cheat parents, students
by Annette Keino
When she scored the first place in Coast Province in her KCPE in 2002, Khadija Abdullah was elated to receive a letter of acceptance to Alliance Girls' High School.

For her like for many students her age, entrance to a national school, and especially to the oldest most prestigious ones like the Alliance Schools, Mangu, Starehe is a life's dream. This dream motivates a the ruthless competition to come out on top not just in one's sown local chool, but also in the municipality and province. It is especially difficult for students from municipalities from which a school like Alliance may admit just one girl. So Khadija set off for Alliance where Charity Ngilu, Margaret Kenyatta, Effie Owuor had started their steps to success.

Read Ms. Keino's argument on why National Schools in Kenya ought to perform better at National Exams, and the discussion that follows.