Editor, Investment in lower education is a matter of urgency to address the problem of school dropout. Primary school children should be able to progress to secondary. Education is the path to human progress and the means through which a person can realise their full potential, but it is important that the new education minister aims higher, and target the most vulnerable children if education needs are to be met. Schools in the rural areas need substantial resources to improve quality of education for children in primary 1, 2 and 3 so as to build a strong foundation for future learning. The investment required is in terms of quality teachers, including female teachers, as well as adequate and appropriate teaching and learning materials. Parents send their children to school with the best of intentions, believing that’s what they need to become productive and happy adults. Many have qualms about how well schools are performing, but the conventional wisdom is that these issues can be resolved with more money, better teachers, more challenging curricula and/or more rigorous tests. But what if the real problem is school itself? The unfortunate fact is that one of our most cherished institutions is, by its very nature, failing our children and our society. Kimenyi Reaction to the story, “Dr Musafiri, new education minister lists his priorities” (The New Times, July 1).
