When compelled by my inner spirit, I would refer to certain things as “misplaced priorities” but for fear of victimization I’d rather it reign as a silent thought. Remember the days of pen pals, long before the digital transformation to Facebook and other virtual worlds online? Those were the days you could write to this imaginary friend in some country overseas and feel like a hero whenever you got a reply thirteen days after your birthday with no reasonable gift.
I once got aggravated by a comment in a letter written by my then Nigerian pen pal. “Kenya is the origin of all crazy ideas in Africa” it read, in reference to the Nyayo Milk. Obviously that had to annoy me. Nyayo Milk was more than an innovation, it moved mountains! But now I believe he was right, especially if he foresaw this; “The Introduction of Class One Laptops, Kenya Version © 2014.”
For once, without bringing in politics, let’s reason together. I am an IT student, thus I have my facts right. Of late I feel so embarrassed when I hear people misuse the term “digital”. This is the only scenario that I would opt to offer wisdom to my president. Giving a laptop to a class one pupil doesn’t make Kenya digital by any means. There are a lot of underlying factors other than fulfilling a party manifesto.
i) Why give a laptop to a feeble-minded being, who by nature wouldn’t desire such a tool? A laptop is a gadget that some university students and lecturers still find it hard to handle. Remember, a class one pupil is just a promoted nursery school kid; so full of illiteracy that such a tool would render them stupid and reduce their pace of learning.
ii) Can we set priorities right? This pupil has no classroom, studies in a non-standard building in the name of a school, lacks a desk, textbooks, stationery, can’t afford uniform, survives on one meal per day, has no teachers (not yet employed by government), etc. Somebody then comes with an electronic gadget (which to this child would purposely serve as a toy) and says he has granted that kid a tool to be relevant in the current age. With all the sobriety you can muster; have you offered assistance in any way? Kenyans, where is wisdom?
iii) If any laptops should be given, the most viable target would be those in the tertiary institutions, the universities and probably colleges. They stand to build the economy the sooner. While campus students strain a lot with insufficient tools just to equip themselves and prepare for the real world in a matter of 4-5 years, someone is thinking of a 6 year old who has close to a decade and half to build the economy! Really? Who needs the laptop more?
iv) The entire scheme would be such a huge waste, that I can confidently say. How will these laptops be handled? Ever seen how an average class one pupil handles a 32-page exercise book? In three days it is a replica of a mandazi wrapper somewhere in Muthurwa or Soko Mjinga Market. I am already in tears just from visualizing this expensive investment go to waste. In a span of one week there will be broken screens, lost chargers, keyboards soaked in tea, just to mention but a few.
v) Crazy as it is, the moment it becomes a reality, my class six bro, college siz and I will all register as class one pupils. I’ll only be denied an opportunity by law, if any legislation on the same exists. Any blockade e.g. age would amount to discrimination, a fact that I can defend well in court. As long as Kethi Kilonzo exists, all things are possible. Congestion is a likely scenario. Those responsible would find it hard to separate ‘real class one pupils’ from ‘IDP class one pupils’ like us.
vi) You give a class one pupil a laptop and busybodies will be ready to hijack, steal, break into school stores and do anything to compromise the safety of those gadgets. People let’s prepare for 2014, a year in which laptop market would resemble that of tomatoes. Cheap ready market! Don’t be surprised to hear this while strolling, “Beba beba, laptop…fifte…bei ni kuelewana…laptop beba…zile mpya za China….mtoto wako ako class two na amepoteza? Pelekea yeye hii…fifte fifte” Hail 2014!
Someone advise my president. I hear he studied economics overseas! Yet he is about to throw our economy into disarray! Sometimes we call ourselves ‘digital’ but possess ‘analogue’ ideas! Certain things can wait, or they are just not necessary! cc: Mr. President!
I once got aggravated by a comment in a letter written by my then Nigerian pen pal. “Kenya is the origin of all crazy ideas in Africa” it read, in reference to the Nyayo Milk. Obviously that had to annoy me. Nyayo Milk was more than an innovation, it moved mountains! But now I believe he was right, especially if he foresaw this; “The Introduction of Class One Laptops, Kenya Version © 2014.”
For once, without bringing in politics, let’s reason together. I am an IT student, thus I have my facts right. Of late I feel so embarrassed when I hear people misuse the term “digital”. This is the only scenario that I would opt to offer wisdom to my president. Giving a laptop to a class one pupil doesn’t make Kenya digital by any means. There are a lot of underlying factors other than fulfilling a party manifesto.
i) Why give a laptop to a feeble-minded being, who by nature wouldn’t desire such a tool? A laptop is a gadget that some university students and lecturers still find it hard to handle. Remember, a class one pupil is just a promoted nursery school kid; so full of illiteracy that such a tool would render them stupid and reduce their pace of learning.
ii) Can we set priorities right? This pupil has no classroom, studies in a non-standard building in the name of a school, lacks a desk, textbooks, stationery, can’t afford uniform, survives on one meal per day, has no teachers (not yet employed by government), etc. Somebody then comes with an electronic gadget (which to this child would purposely serve as a toy) and says he has granted that kid a tool to be relevant in the current age. With all the sobriety you can muster; have you offered assistance in any way? Kenyans, where is wisdom?
iii) If any laptops should be given, the most viable target would be those in the tertiary institutions, the universities and probably colleges. They stand to build the economy the sooner. While campus students strain a lot with insufficient tools just to equip themselves and prepare for the real world in a matter of 4-5 years, someone is thinking of a 6 year old who has close to a decade and half to build the economy! Really? Who needs the laptop more?
iv) The entire scheme would be such a huge waste, that I can confidently say. How will these laptops be handled? Ever seen how an average class one pupil handles a 32-page exercise book? In three days it is a replica of a mandazi wrapper somewhere in Muthurwa or Soko Mjinga Market. I am already in tears just from visualizing this expensive investment go to waste. In a span of one week there will be broken screens, lost chargers, keyboards soaked in tea, just to mention but a few.
v) Crazy as it is, the moment it becomes a reality, my class six bro, college siz and I will all register as class one pupils. I’ll only be denied an opportunity by law, if any legislation on the same exists. Any blockade e.g. age would amount to discrimination, a fact that I can defend well in court. As long as Kethi Kilonzo exists, all things are possible. Congestion is a likely scenario. Those responsible would find it hard to separate ‘real class one pupils’ from ‘IDP class one pupils’ like us.
vi) You give a class one pupil a laptop and busybodies will be ready to hijack, steal, break into school stores and do anything to compromise the safety of those gadgets. People let’s prepare for 2014, a year in which laptop market would resemble that of tomatoes. Cheap ready market! Don’t be surprised to hear this while strolling, “Beba beba, laptop…fifte…bei ni kuelewana…laptop beba…zile mpya za China….mtoto wako ako class two na amepoteza? Pelekea yeye hii…fifte fifte” Hail 2014!
Someone advise my president. I hear he studied economics overseas! Yet he is about to throw our economy into disarray! Sometimes we call ourselves ‘digital’ but possess ‘analogue’ ideas! Certain things can wait, or they are just not necessary! cc: Mr. President!
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