Education System Part 2

As promised......this is the continuation of my previous blog of education system........
Achievers in life use inspiration and motivation to overcome barriers. Teaching to the test does not inspire or motivate anyone, memorizing does not inspire a love to learn, in fact, it does just the opposite, it turns off the desire to learn. Education’s goal should be to develop a love to learn that stays with students throughout a lifetime. Education should be a lifetime experience, not limited to the youth years.


Educators are switching to test because there is a crisis in education of their own making and society wants measurable results. This pressure is passed on to political leaders who base political decisions on what is measurable, which is academic test and test are based on acceptance of the status quo. Every student must now accept the status quo and be an academic intellectual or be labeled a failure. Natural talent and knowledge processing skills does not count. Students receiving the failure label are growing in numbers and percent, all because the system measures selected knowledge on a one day standardized paper test.Really "after 8 years in Primary School....one exam called KCPE determines if you are qualified to join High School?????........Wooow...what if l was a performer in the last 8years and l fell sick during exam week and l don't perform as well...then what....all my past performance goes to waste....wow,,,OK.

Consider the parent who is having a problem with a word processor. On their own they can’t solve the problem. They have been collecting knowledge for years, but their knowledge processor is in hibernation. With any new gadget someone has to teach them, they can’t figure it out for themselves. Their thirteen-year-old boy comes to the rescue. He has limited knowledge, but he knows how to processes available information. He explores the word processor problem until he finds a solution. He is not unusually smart, this is a teenager’s natural approach to finding solutions.

All young children have a natural talent for creative process of information. It’s during the teen years that natural creative processing is replaced with the status quo. The status quo memorizes knowledge and forgets how to process it. In the classroom, memorizing is what counts. Standardized test reinforces the status quo. It kills creative processing ability. Status quo attitudes will follow them into adult life where they will have to ask their children for help.

Today any student who refuses to accept the status quo is labeled a troublemaker. The student now behaves in the classroom with glassy eyes and school officials receive high performance ratings. The student may get passing grades and land a job with a comfortable wage, but that will be all. Teenage dreams of great ambitions are gone.

Fact: Self-made millionaires are not "A" students in the classroom. The way they process knowledge is in conflict with classroom priorities. The self-made millionaire has a vision, then he researches specific knowledge, applies intuitive knowledge and process all elements, searching for a workable solution. Finding alternative ways to do common tasks makes millionaires. The secret is vision, research and processing, not pre stored knowledge alone.

The typical employer wants employees with dictionary knowledge, not visionaries. They want employees who follow orders, are willing to do repetitive tasks, be happy with a limited role, and accept the status quo. Repetitive tasks' is efficiency and this is where profits are made. Also, accepting the status quo prevents the exposure of blunders by leaders. Too many blunders and profits disappear. In a status quo environment visionaries become bored quickly and soon receive the troublemaker label by offering alternatives or exposing blunders, sometimes leading to dismissal, yet, their ideas increase efficiency and create new sources of profits for the company. In the long haul, visionaries are the one’s who make above average wages no matter what their formal education level. As these students move into the workforce, status quo and blunders will kill off the typical business. This explains why generation "Y"and "Z" are considered "Troublemakers".

What can be considered a quality education? A quality education is custom design that addresses the unique abilities of each student and has a positive emotional experience. Custom education evaluates natural talent and how the student learns. This is why home schooled students out perform classroom students. Parents learn what works and does not work, then focus on what works. With this method, students develop a love to learn and learning becomes a lifelong process.

What type of education environment, do you think, will produce consistent winners?
E-learning is becoming an education model that the present system cannot compete with. It is focusing on what motivates rather than what the system thinks is good for students. It is also leaving out politicians, textbook industries, testing companies, and unions. These forces are now fighting back, trying to maintain a system that is in their interest, not the students. At this time, they are focusing on standardized testing, which seems to be a last ditch effort to maintain the status quo.

There is light at the end of the tunnel........of "Quality Education"!!!!! Must congratulate USIU-Nairobi. They offer quality education.Their grading system is not based on exam/test only....they consider other factors too...such as participation in class,team-work via group work,continuous assessment......etc

The United States International University (USIU) was founded in 1969 as the first private secular university in Kenya. Today, USIU is considered one of the top universities in East Africa. USIU is accredited in the USA by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and in Kenya by the Commission for Higher Education.The University strives to provide a diverse community of learners with high-quality, broad-based educational programs that promote inquiry, mastery and application of knowledge, concepts and skills, while fostering ethical leadership and responsible service.

Am a proud Alumni of USIU. For more details about USIU.....check out http://usiu.ac.ke/

Education System Part 1

What can l say....am so impressed with the new government choice of cabinet. Finally we have a government that appreciates education/professionalism.For a moment l was beginning to wander if education is becoming an endangered species.....if there is anything like that. With so many people stating,it doesn't matter if one is educated or not.This has gone as far as the pulpit and worried me.Am not saying one cannot succeed without education,by all means you can and they are t-shirts to show for it.My problem is when people in authority sought of discourage the upcoming generation in regards education. In my opinion those people have missed the point,there is nothing wrong with being educated,,,,it is the system and the motive. Why does one need education? Is it for success? Is it to get/earn more money? Is it for prestige? Is it to gain more knowledge? Just why do you need to be educated???

According to wikipedia definition.....
Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which knowledge, skills, and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through teaching, training, research. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts.

Again let me ask,what is education? Is it knowledge in basic skills, academics, technical disciplines, citizenship…or is it something else? Our formal education system says only the academic basics are important, emphasizing the collection of knowledge without understanding its value. What about the processing of knowledge—using inspiration, visionary ambitions, creativity, risk, motivation and the ability to bounce back from failure? These skills are associated with understanding the value of knowledge, but many education institutions don’t consider these skills. There is a huge, disconnected gap, which is a problem for most "educated" people.

With this...l think l somehow understand why the people considered "less educated" have achieved so much regardless....They know how to research, collect information for a selected project and process knowledge.
 On the otherhand...the so "highly educated" went through a classroom environment that focuses on the collection of knowledge without a clear purpose, other than high class grades. If the purpose does not motivate, other than to please the teacher, then there is nothing to process outside of memorizing answers for test. The typical student is academic challenged while being motivation starved. Lack of motivation is lack of knowledge processing skills. The typical college graduate will have a professional skill that supplies life’s basic needs, that’s all.
Our education system states anyone who does not have the ability to put clear thoughts on paper is labeled a failure. All natural skills, including knowledge processing, does not count. The fact is, what is exercised grows stronger, what is ignored stays dormant. The classroom exercises the collection of academics leaving all other natural skills in the closet.
Just so you know the test does not measure intelligence or ability, it does not measure how the mind processes information, how motivating experiences develop persistence, or how the mind sorts out instincts, opinions, evaluations, possibilities, alternatives. Knowledge by itself has no value, it is like a dictionary filled with words. Words by themselves have no value, it is the process of stringing them together that gives them value.
How they are strung together determines the level of value. Now our education system is becoming a system that memorizes the dictionary. When students have memorized selected knowledge, then they will be given a one-day test, based on dictionary knowledge, which will influence employment opportunity for the rest of their life. Natural skills are not considered. Is this how Kenya will became the worlds' economic leader in Africa? NO!!!!!!! Knowledge only has value when used with a process and process in an artificial environment is not predictable or measurable.
 I will write more of this in the next blog..............

Education is still very important

I don't have the word "give up" in my vocabulary,l believe l can achieve whatever l want for as long as l believe.Doing CPA's from section 1 to 6 taught me determination.Since then l have achieved alot.
Am a strong believer who loves God with all that l have and to Him l give all the Glory for bringing me this far. And just cause l did accounts,l have not limited my life to that....l have now acquired an MBA in Strategic Management.
I am at a point in my life am doing all l can to apply the knowledge l got.I am a graduate with a difference. I apply what l got in my daily life.I distinguish myself from others by doing not just professional work,but excellent work with lots of creativity.My work demonstrates the paper l got....

I have not allowed education to limit my creativity,instead,l use it to enhance it.
Education that can take you places its the one that you apply...theory with no application has no value.
Its time anyone who is learned breaks the stereotype that learned people are only focused to do white collar jobs. Education is just a guideline,its not a means to an end. It also gives you a platform to prove yourself unlike someone else who does not have it and has to work extra hard to prove their point,they can do a particular job even without a certificate to show for it.

Yes we have stories of people who have made it in life without much education but its important to note,they got those ideas while in school.Good example...Bill Gates was a 2nd year when he got the idea of microsoft. Gates graduated from Lakeside School in 1973. He scored 1590 out of 1600 on the SAT and enrolled at Harvard College in the autumn of 1973.Gates did not have a definite study plan while a student at Harvard and spent a lot of time using the school's computers.Gates dropped out of Harvard to start his own company....Please note he was in school when he got the idea........

So yes...its ok to be an entrepreneur but don't playdown education....Food for thought.

Strathmore University experience.

My time at Strathmore University was rather interesting.Starting with the so many rules of "how to dress","minimal interactions with opposite sex", "University reports sent to the guardians" etc.
Discipline was the core value l learnt in this University. We even had ethics and theology classes though not examinable. I enjoyed my theology classes with Fr Emmanuel Gonzalez especially about "Christianity and contraceptives." He was anti-contraceptives or any form of any family planning.According to what he taught us, God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it and using contraceptives its defying that command. You can only imagine the controversies it brought.

The other thing that l can't forget about Strathmore its about every student assigned a "tutor"My tutors were fine and they were both ladies.We didn't meet much but all l can remember one of them "Ms Mwagona" cautioned me about being too appealing to one of my male lecturers,and l was told if l had to see him after class for any classwork clarification l look for a female counterpart. Well,l defied that advice and have no regrets because l became one of the best students in that course "Financial Accounting". And yes that Lecturer "Nathan" was quite a charm and at some point l had a "crush" on him but it faded with time.And am glad i didn't lose my focus but l did so well  and managed to complete CPA in stipulated time and Financial Accounting was my favorite.

I made friends at the university,one friendship that stood out was with "Josephine", she still is my friend.Olive,Sharon,Collins,Kuria,Sammy......the Christian union friends,we had an awesome time and we are still great friend to this day.Fr Emmanuel was a great friend too and still is,he taught me a lot about Roman Catholic doctrines,l almost converted and other related life issues.
And last but not least we are good friends with my one time crush/former lecturer Nathan to-date.
Almost forgot to mention, l would bring black-forest cake in all my birthdays to share with my friends at the University.(January 9th) 
So.....my journey of doing CPA(section 1 to 6) was amazing and am blessed l did it in the best university "Strathmore".

So now after completing my registration with Kasneb l started my classes at Strathmore University.Before joining l had to do entrance exams which l did well and was admitted.My first day was very exciting,l was so optimistic about it.
The funniest part was that,l came with a complete geometry set.....and no calculator.....

I still remember to this day when l was registering for CPA exams with Kasneb. l almost missed out the last day because one of my referees had not certified her photos and she had gone for training ....Karen....getting there was a hustle by itself as they are rarely public means of transport going there....but l managed to get her....after walking miles and miles.....and after she certified them l had to get back to KASNEB offices and the time for closing their offices was almost.....so l did something very risky for a college gal.....l asked for a ride from a stranger and it turn out well.....he dropped me in the KASNEB offices and l managed to register....believe you me.....l had a relief sigh.....because l got there safe and in-time......but l am not encouraging any gal out there to ever do that.....lets just say l was fortunate nothing happened to me.....could be its because l had been brought up in shags (rural area) "Nanyuki" and there people trust each other a lot unlike towns/cities........

When l registered for CPA Exams with KASNEB,it was quite a process,,, l wandered what l was getting myself to,but am one gal who does not give up easily,,,so l did all that was required and finally got registered,,,,and started my classes at Strathmore University,,,will share my experience at Strathmore with time,,,,