Away with 8-4-4: Here is why I am looking forward to the new system

Mohamed Guleid: It is a huge relief that the new curriculum will reduce the burden on the children to study just to pass their national examinations [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Every morning, I feel a certain sympathy as I see off primary school going children. The journey to school starts at 5.30am. First, they trudge along to the gate with bags full of books, lunch box, a large bottle of water. I feel pity for my four-year-old who must get into a bus at 5.30am in the morning so that he can be at school at 7.30am. Often, they engage in a ride-about-town picking up children from a dozen or so other estates.

As a school-going child, many years ago, I remember we used to walk to school at about 7.30am. We would arrive at around 8am for the school parade, a little dusty, but dashing with energy. In my school bag back then, there were hardly any books maybe a few exercise books, most probably cut into two. School assignments were done at school in between the lessons. One would imagine this early morning ritual is a consequence of living in the city. This is far from the truth. Even in small towns nowadays, I see children running to school way before dawn. They say this is all because of the 8-4-4 system of education.