Pushing uphill

One of the hardest things about the work that we do over here in Kosele is working out which cultural differences are worth challenging and which are really sacrosanct. I have spent some time during this visit trying to build up our older children’s confidence and communication skills. Very basic body language and eye contact lessons that are routinely delivered in primary schools in the UK. Young children in English schools are taught ‘good listening’ and ‘good sitting’. I don’t think these basic skills really feature much in the Kenyan primary curriculum. There seems to be a lack of willingness to engage adults in eye contact and, with a few exceptions, a decreasing amount of enthusiasm for answering questions in class as the children get older. I guess this isn’t unique to Kenya. It’s something I’ve often observed in English secondary schools. It’s almost like the will to engage gets sucked out of these older pupils. The will to learn often seems to head off in the same direction at the same time.

I had some fun tonight with our ‘candidates’, (the oldest pupils in our primary school who will be sitting the Kenyan Certificate of Primary Education in November). To their credit they are very conscientious at doing their ‘preps’, (homework). When I joined them for preps this evening I couldn’t help noticing that the classroom was a bit untidy so launched into a bit of an ‘environment improvement for the benefit of learning routine’, linked with a bit of a good listening, good sitting theme. It took a while to get them warmed up. Once they realised I was being serious there was a marked improvement. By the end of the session we had pretty good sitting, listening and answering and a very tidy classroom. The class is planning to surprise their teacher when he comes in at 7 a.m. by being sat confidently in their places and leaping up and greeting him first thing. I can’t wait to see the look on his face.

It’s all part of a serious attempt to start moulding characters and personalities that will be able to make a difference in their communities and their country as they grow up and become adults. Whilst it is important to celebrate differences and personal preferences there are some basic rules of conduct that apply to everybody. Words like integrity, self-discipline, reliability, honesty, hard-working, loyal and dependable often seem to be devalued by the current, increasingly, global culture. It was interesting asking the children about corruption and dishonesty. They all understand those words very well and, when pushed, were adamant that they did not want to have anything to do with them. They recognised the ways in which corrupt practises and dishonest behaviour damage society on many levels. I don’t think its wishful thinking to believe that our children can make Kenya a great country. It will be hard work though. Being in the world but not of it is a tough ask of anybody. A great prize really does await those who achieve it and we are going to push on towards it.