Fresh Presidential elections reveal the deplorable State of public schools

In Kenya, primary schools are commonly used by the electoral commission for the electorate to cast votes because every community has one.

However, the intriguing factor besides the elections. What is rarely seen is the deplorable state of the school’s infrastructure spread across the nation.

#KenyaElection produced a wealth of imagery. Schools were often used as polling stations and they are a contrast to the high tech election. pic.twitter.com/xCVhUOLhcp

— Sochin Limited (@sochinagency) October 27, 2017

We saw pictures of empty schools used as polling stations. But did we see how poor the learning conditions are? THAT alone speaks volumes.

— Francis Hook (@FrankHook) October 27, 2017

When will we ever have a conversation about the state of public (mostly) primary schools, that were majority of the polling stations.

— Bruce 🇰🇪 (@ngwata_) October 26, 2017

Often, we are keen to know the performance indicators of a region. How many children got 400 marks and above? How many from public schools? How many from private academies? How many pupils got over 350- 400 marks and equally how many of those from public schools and how many from the private academies?

How did the boys and girls fare in the category of over 400 marks and over 350- 400 marks? How many pupils qualified to go to National schools? How many to Provincial schools? How many to District schools and how many though qualified may end up missing Form One and vice verse for the secondary schools.

Education remains the only potent instrument of transforming the socio-economic conditions and its a wake-up call to also start interrogating the infrastructure of these schools. How conducive are they?

The shocking physical state of educational facilities is that they are invariably dirty, unkempt, stinking, falling apart, leaking, and congested.

I’m pleased that despite the calls of “no reforms, no elections”,every polling station in Machakos has had people voting. pic.twitter.com/VVBhQmW6If

— Dr.Alfred Mutua (@DrAlfredMutua) October 26, 2017

Meet the man who managed to tarmac 500km road in 30days and failed to cement the classroom floor of his own community and village school😬😬😬 pic.twitter.com/96P5eHKDrA

— John Juma (@JohnJuma_) October 26, 2017

Results streaming in: Kaeris Primary School in Turkana North:
Registered Voters 1,085
Raila 0
Uhuru 40.
Station Closed#ElectionsBoycottKE pic.twitter.com/8i4RVxVBnJ

— James Lokwale (@JamesLokwale) October 26, 2017

#KenyaPoll

Kalkacha Primary School in Hola, Tana River County pic.twitter.com/wlYejgqV84

— Robin Njogu (@robinnjogu) October 26, 2017

#KenyaPoll

Emali Primary School, Makueni County. pic.twitter.com/UdVNwutLfo

— Robin Njogu (@robinnjogu) October 26, 2017

#KenyaPoll

Ndelekeni Primary School, Machakos County. pic.twitter.com/tonA5l38mk

— Robin Njogu (@robinnjogu) October 26, 2017

On 8.8.17, Kenyan voters turned out in millions … Today, most Polling Stations have no queues … Will the votes reach 2m? #KenyaDecides pic.twitter.com/ntggX2Ksbr

— Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) October 26, 2017

Kitui Primary school. Overwhelming voter turnout 😂😂 #ElectionBoycottKE pic.twitter.com/7gEnmV5aUy

— Wakili Ochieng🇰🇪 (@ItsOchieng) October 26, 2017

Earlier today I voted at migwani, in Kitui county.#ElectionBoycottKE is real here and I can’t guarantee uhuru 10k votes from Kitui county. pic.twitter.com/HSrBlrFG0p

— Hon David Musila (@DavidMusilah) October 26, 2017

I just voted for myself at my polling station at Kapedo girls in Turkana county .Its your right to vote #FreshElections pic.twitter.com/7Zf8V6nKyf

— #FreshElections! (@EAukot) October 26, 2017

MACHAKOS- Thatha primary school polling station, Masinga constituency opened at 6AM, voters yet to show up #Ballot2017 pic.twitter.com/xI17v2cy5M

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) October 26, 2017

Bosose, Maraga backyard also hit with quorum hitch #ElectionBoycottKE #kenyapoll pic.twitter.com/l0HHM1unkk

— Kenya West© (@KinyanBoy) October 26, 2017

Kawalase Primary School in Turkana Central. No voters at 10.30 am! #ElectionBoycottKE pic.twitter.com/nZlxZfmZwy

— James Lokwale (@JamesLokwale) October 26, 2017

This not only affects the quantity and quality of education.  This is because the low public investment and spending in higher education has precipitated further declines in quality and relevance of education.

“We have paid too much time worrying about enrollment in school, retention, and completion of primary school, and too little attention to learning outcomes,” notes Alex Awiti, Director of the East African Institute of the Aga Khan.

According to Awiti, “Education must more than a constitutional obligation of the state or some SDG commitment. Education must be inalienable that is inextricably bound with learning. I argue that the national conversation must move beyond a focus on inputs to expand access to public and private investments that provide the conditions, which support learning.”

Read: Laptops From China For Standard One Pupils: Is The System Ready? 

The numerous pictures that were shared online is a bold statement of how the Government and the local leaders are out of touch with the ordinary Kenyan and how cheaply they value or at the worst place no value to the lives of the people of the region.

Just like health, how well a people are educated, is the first measure of that country’s self-esteem and priorities on development.