Education key to EAC integration

Whereas we can celebrate the achievement of a common market and a customs union by the East African Community (EAC), we cannot afford to lose sight of the challenges frustrating the process of integration.

One way to deal with these challenges is to work out mechanisms that will merge existing political and ideological differences in member countries. One such mechanism is education.

The interplay of education and development results in economic prosperity and also brings about social and political integration through sharing of ideas, skills, attitudes and knowledge.

Looking at the East African region, the two key impediments in the achievement of educational integration are the structural compositions of education systems in member countries and the language of instruction.

With Kenya offering 8-4-4, Tanzania and Uganda offering 7-4-2-3 and Rwanda and Burundi offering 6-3-3-4, it is not hard to strike a compromise system owing to the fact all the five systems run for 16 years.

Further, we have witnessed the mass movement of students within member States as they pursue high school and tertiary education. This is an indication the existing curricula content can be easily harmonised to fit the educational interests of member States.

Integration

The efforts of Rwanda and Burundi to shift from French to English underline their zeal and readiness to benefit from integration. Theirs is also a timely move given that English already exists as the language of instruction in Kenya and Uganda and is slowly gaining momentum in Tanzania.

The onus now lies with EAC countries, through their prospective Education ministries, to lay down a common framework that will guide member countries to restructure their educational policies towards a common education system and a common language of instruction.

{Otieno Jerim and Matheka Francis, Kijabe}

Those calling for the resignations of Education Minister Sam Ongeri and his PS Karega Mutahi are not telling us the truth as far as the alleged financial scandal in the ministry is concerned.

Kenyans should not set a dangerous precedent that whenever a mistake occurs in a ministry, those charged with the responsibility of heading it must quit their jobs.

A ministry is a broad institution that has numerous decisions makers, so politicians must stop jumping to conclusions that sacking top officials is the only solution.

President Kibaki, who was concerned over the matter, has already directed the relevant law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter and charge the guilty in court. This should be enough.

We should give the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and police investigators enough time to do their job.

Ministers are not the accounting officers although they are in charge of political decision making. Prof Mutahi in this particular incident was the whistle-blower, and one cannot expect him to also be the thief. He is genuinely concerned over the matter.

The Education ministry is one of the largest dockets, and we should appreciate the heavy responsibilities Ongeri and Mutahi have to shoulder.

{Leo Omolo, via e-mail}