Raila asks government to equip all schools, stop exam cheating

CORD leader Raila Odinga addresses parents and pupils at Gentiana Primary School in Dogoretti South Constituency yesterday during the institution’s 15th anniversary. [Photo: WILLIS AWANDU/Standard]

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga has asked the Government to equip public schools to improve education standards.

Raila, who also wants examination cheating tackled, appealed to parents to take their responsibilities seriously to avoid vices being witnessed in schools countrywide.

Speaking at Gentiana Primary School in Kawangware, Nairobi, during the institution's 15th anniversary, the former Prime Minister said the Government must do everything possible to make it easy for children to succeed in school.

"The Government must set high and fair standards in education and create a conducive environment for learning. It must invest in the welfare of our teachers, their housing, healthcare, salaries and pensions for those who retire," Raila said.

"We need debate on what we can do to those teachers who stay behind, long past the hour and the last bell, to give that extra coaching to that pupil who finds the going tough, but whom the teacher believes can still make it."

He said due to the Government's inefficiency, the poorly paid teachers are forced to assist needy learners.

"We must have something for that teacher who spends his or her own money to buy books and chalks and dusters so that lessons can go on when the Government fails to provide," Raila said.

He added, "Even as we talk of laptops and tablets for pupils, there are schools in this country that have no chalks, dusters, books or desks and teachers dig into their pockets to buy these basics. This school here was once such an institution until well-wishers came in."

The ODM leader said examination cheating is spoiling the country's image and will spell doom for youth who cannot get employment in other countries.

"The Government must ensure a level playing field in learning. It must ensure hard work, not cheating, pays when it comes to exams and admission to high school," he said.

Raila said the Government must ensure cheating is eradicated and those who cheat are correctly identified and punished.

"We must deal with the problem of cheating from where it starts - at the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and not teachers and candidates. Knec must be held responsible for exam leakages," he noted. He urged parents to take their shared responsibility to educate their children.

"As parents, we must be the ones to try our best to take our children to school. We must take up our responsibility to keep the children on the straight and narrow track of learning. We must wake them up early to go to school, have them do their homework and ensure the children do not to spend all the time in front of the TV and playing video games," Raila said.

He said that parents are the first teachers of the children and the role cannot be delegated. Raila urged teachers to inspire young Kenyans to love knowledge and think big.