From: Kaloki Wamua Wakenya
Date: Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 7:09 AM

After reading a blog on 8.4.4., as a first hand victim, I am obliged to write on our tribulations, triumphs and the way forward.

The year 1985 was one with high levels of anxiety for those of us who were to sit KCPE for the first time. None of us knew what to expect and all around us were negative comments about the new system of education. I however salute the few dedicated teachers who ensured we worked hard to pass and at the same time counseling and encouraging us. Without some of these teachers and parents, many of us could have lost hope.

After four years in 1989, the level of anxiety was much higher than in 1985. The media was full of criticisms against the new system and were wondering loudly whether the secondary graduates were well prepared for university education. Having overcome the anxiety in 1985 many soldiered on and could courageously take on A-Level students on debates. I remember one time our class mates challenging Form Six Students to sit an A-Level Economics paper and show them dust. The challenge was not taken kindly and the school almost went into a war pitting the majority 8. 4. 4 s against the elite A- Level students.

The year 1989 passed by and a number of us made it to the university where even the lecturers could tell us that we were half baked. I remember one lecturer telling us that she did not expect her to pass her course since we had not done preparatory courses at A – Levels. She said some of us were not mature enough to wash ourselves properly. I can however report that a number of my classmates have got their Ph Ds from world renowned universities and others are doing well as top managers in multinational corporations while the poor lecturer is still struggling with her PhD.

From that day on we learnt that we had to assert ourselves for the
university and society at large to accept us and many a lecturer had to eat humble pie by being told to resign if they thought they were not teaching the right people. There are also a number of common courses that were shared between A-Level graduates and 8. 4. 4. and as can be confirmed from the state universities that were in existence then, the 8. 4. 4 lot performed much better than their A- Level counterparts.

The trend continued and faculties that could not produce 1st class honors before started to produce 1st class in 1994/1995 graduations. What I do not know was whether this was political or not but those of us who proceeded for graduate studies saw a trend where those from 8. 4. 4. track were habitually performing better than those from 7.4.2.3 track in graduate studies.

Casual studies of professional exams in Kenya also reveal that pass rates in KASNEB examinations improved markedly with the enrolment of those from the 8.4. 4 track. Better still the recent graduates of such professional examinations are doing well in the job market both nationally and internationally.

I am not denying that there were some flaws with the 8.4. 4 system but would like to encourage all that have followed the 8.4.4. track not to allow anybody to put them down.

More than we have done in the past, we can still do much more and yes we can revolutionize Kenya.

With the old guard schooled in elitism and exclusive management and politics, we need to substitute each of them with those who have been schooled in inclusive approach to issues through the 8.4.4 track.

We’ve got to revolutionize Kenya and I say YES WE CAN for the future is in our hands and we are the majority.

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Subject: TRIBULATIONS AND TRIUMPHS OF 8.4.4 GRADUATES.
To: jaluo@jaluo.com