Education experts do not agree on much in education, but there is one point on which they agree: having an effective teacher is the single most important school ingredient to a child's learning success.
But the problem again lies in the identification of the specific benchmarks used in the selection such effective teachers. The government has over time relied on the often deceptive summative national examination results in determining and rewarding teachers whose students post impressive scores in the examinable subjects. The Ministry of basic Education and TSC has promoted such teachers to higher job groups while those in low socio-economic schools (most of which are in rural and hardship areas) lag in promotions because their schools fail to post impressive scores in the same examinations.
However, over the years it has become increasingly clear that stakeholders in the basic education sector are not in agreement as to what factors determine the competence of effective teachers or how effective teaching can be evaluated and given recognition.
In my opinion, a teacher`s competence must be measured based on three distinct aspects of students` achievement. These include: current levels of the students` performance, students` improvements over time, and achievement equity where students` results are weighted against schools` socio-economic status. Over time it has become crystal clear that the so called “best performing schools” fair badly on these caveat.
A more thorough reading of the results presented in such National summative examinations provides a more nuanced perspective on the educational condition of the nation. For example, teachers in national schools have always been ranked as effective basing on the fact that their schools are ranked first in the summative national examinations, however, the same schools will rank poorly in terms of cumulative improvements in the four year period since KCPE.
When using this new format, it will for instance be unsurprising that despite average or below-average current achievement in summative national examination, a village school in a hardship area like central Pokot is likely to be ranked among the top performing schools nationally as a result of very strong improvements on students` entry behavior in the four years. It is therefore incumbent upon the government and TSC to credit a teacher handling such students. This is because the teacher is effective in content delivery and is in fact also effective in terms of maximizing on the limited resources available to add value to students` entry behavior within a four year period.
I therefore commend the Head teachers who in their just concluded conference in Mombasa identified this caveat as particularly salient for quality assessment in schools` performance. It has made the public to realize the fact that national schools (most of which are blessed with abundant resources) do not necessarily outperform the so called village schools/third world schools.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Sunday, June 27, 2010
PROTECT TEACHERS FROM FAITH BASED DISCRIMINATION.
In Kenya most secondary schools are nondenominational and are supported by parents and partly funded by the government. The government also funds faith based schools that meet certain standards. Part of the government funding to faith based schools includes the provision of state employed teachers. However, many of these teachers continue to remain uniquely vulnerable to religious discrimination.
This is because there have been numerous instances where majority of the so called sponsors/management in the state funded faith schools have indirectly or otherwise discriminated on the basis of religion in hiring decisions. If for instance, TSC allots an employment opportunity to such a school, and the school`s BoG decides to rate religious devotion higher than numerical felicity when appointing a math teacher, then there is nothing in the law that can stop them.
Secondly, if a TSC employed teacher is unfortunate enough to be transferred to such a state funded faith school despite his or her beliefs, his or her problems may just have started. This is because, such school boards can decide levels of promotion on the basis of the beliefs of such a teacher, meaning that there can be a de facto ban on senior posts if he or she is of the "wrong" faith.
Thirdly, sometimes such BoGs can influence a teacher to be dismissed for conduct which is “incompatible” with the school's faith. Here, it is up to the BoG of such a school to define the "precepts" of the school's religion and what forms of conduct are incompatible with it. In this context, one is left wondering just what forms of conduct could be considered cause for reprimand, interdiction or even suspension by TSC.
It will perhaps not be unsurprising to hear that a teacher was interdicted and suspended from service without pay for a couple of months or even dismissed and removed from the roll of teachers simply because such a teacher refused to take students to a Sunday Service or that a teacher failed to turn up for remedial teaching on a Saturday irrespective of whether such a teacher is obliged to observe it as his or her Sabbath. I have even heard of instances where a teacher was charged with insubordination for refusing to participate in a compulsory praise and worship session in school!
In many instances, TSC has always taken the agent`s words as the gospel truth irrespective of whether their actions or inactions are contrary to the TSC Code of Regulations and the code of conduct and ethics. Unfortunately, TSC has made no coherent or principled defense of this situation. It is time that TSC protected teachers against any form of religious discrimination.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
This is because there have been numerous instances where majority of the so called sponsors/management in the state funded faith schools have indirectly or otherwise discriminated on the basis of religion in hiring decisions. If for instance, TSC allots an employment opportunity to such a school, and the school`s BoG decides to rate religious devotion higher than numerical felicity when appointing a math teacher, then there is nothing in the law that can stop them.
Secondly, if a TSC employed teacher is unfortunate enough to be transferred to such a state funded faith school despite his or her beliefs, his or her problems may just have started. This is because, such school boards can decide levels of promotion on the basis of the beliefs of such a teacher, meaning that there can be a de facto ban on senior posts if he or she is of the "wrong" faith.
Thirdly, sometimes such BoGs can influence a teacher to be dismissed for conduct which is “incompatible” with the school's faith. Here, it is up to the BoG of such a school to define the "precepts" of the school's religion and what forms of conduct are incompatible with it. In this context, one is left wondering just what forms of conduct could be considered cause for reprimand, interdiction or even suspension by TSC.
It will perhaps not be unsurprising to hear that a teacher was interdicted and suspended from service without pay for a couple of months or even dismissed and removed from the roll of teachers simply because such a teacher refused to take students to a Sunday Service or that a teacher failed to turn up for remedial teaching on a Saturday irrespective of whether such a teacher is obliged to observe it as his or her Sabbath. I have even heard of instances where a teacher was charged with insubordination for refusing to participate in a compulsory praise and worship session in school!
In many instances, TSC has always taken the agent`s words as the gospel truth irrespective of whether their actions or inactions are contrary to the TSC Code of Regulations and the code of conduct and ethics. Unfortunately, TSC has made no coherent or principled defense of this situation. It is time that TSC protected teachers against any form of religious discrimination.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Saturday, June 26, 2010
INTERNSHIP: THE GAMBIT TO DENY TEACHERS PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE EMPLOYMENT.
Nations the world over recognize the intricate connections between stable government, economic growth and effective schooling and are making basic education a national priority. They have made it their foremost preoccupation to examine strategies to use in unlocking the full potential of the teaching profession through policies that focus on accountability for quality and results, incentives to attract and keep high-quality teachers and building capacity for effective teaching.
However, it is sad that the Kenya government is intent with the continuation of its scheming and lackadaisical stance on this very national lifeline. The net effect of the government`s haughtiness has been that the turnover of teachers has been extremely high.
If truth be told, the government is, to say the least, disinterested in embracing a more respectful culture as a means to attracting more teaching talent in our schools. Instead, it is hell bent on employing a masterly misdemeanor with a view to tackling this intractable problem in the most unprofessional way. It wants the role of employing and paying teachers exercised by schools` BoG`s and PTA`s.
Yet doing so will be folly, sham and deceptively dangerous to the growth of the teaching profession in this country. It must be made crystal clear that the issue here is not whether “internship” under the terms of the various school boards will address in a jiffy the shortages prevalent in schools countrywide but whether this mode of employment will have an awful side effect on the teaching profession; the truth is that such a move will permanently denigrate the teaching profession.
If the idea that a qualified teacher has to work as an intern before being formally employed then why not let the internship be exercised under the terms and conditions of TSC and not the schools` BoG`s or PTA`s. This is because TSC will find it extremely difficult to take corrective measures against the interns who engage in unethical practices. Moreover, the period in which one has to serve as an intern prior to being formally employed by TSC must also be spelt out so that internship is not used as a gambit to deny teachers the right to be employed under permanent and pensionable terms.
If internship is meant to deny teachers the right to secure employment, then it would seem that professionalism is the least of the government`s concerns. It will be unsurprising if the government goes to the extent of contracting teachers who never should be contracted in the first place for the simple reason that bodies are needed in the classroom. In the long run this cheap, unprofessional and inexperienced labor force will turn out to be detrimental to the citizenry of this country.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
However, it is sad that the Kenya government is intent with the continuation of its scheming and lackadaisical stance on this very national lifeline. The net effect of the government`s haughtiness has been that the turnover of teachers has been extremely high.
If truth be told, the government is, to say the least, disinterested in embracing a more respectful culture as a means to attracting more teaching talent in our schools. Instead, it is hell bent on employing a masterly misdemeanor with a view to tackling this intractable problem in the most unprofessional way. It wants the role of employing and paying teachers exercised by schools` BoG`s and PTA`s.
Yet doing so will be folly, sham and deceptively dangerous to the growth of the teaching profession in this country. It must be made crystal clear that the issue here is not whether “internship” under the terms of the various school boards will address in a jiffy the shortages prevalent in schools countrywide but whether this mode of employment will have an awful side effect on the teaching profession; the truth is that such a move will permanently denigrate the teaching profession.
If the idea that a qualified teacher has to work as an intern before being formally employed then why not let the internship be exercised under the terms and conditions of TSC and not the schools` BoG`s or PTA`s. This is because TSC will find it extremely difficult to take corrective measures against the interns who engage in unethical practices. Moreover, the period in which one has to serve as an intern prior to being formally employed by TSC must also be spelt out so that internship is not used as a gambit to deny teachers the right to be employed under permanent and pensionable terms.
If internship is meant to deny teachers the right to secure employment, then it would seem that professionalism is the least of the government`s concerns. It will be unsurprising if the government goes to the extent of contracting teachers who never should be contracted in the first place for the simple reason that bodies are needed in the classroom. In the long run this cheap, unprofessional and inexperienced labor force will turn out to be detrimental to the citizenry of this country.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Saturday, June 19, 2010
MACHAGE`S SARDONIC TREATMENT OF POLITICS BRINGS OUT HIS INNER PRIMAL SELF.
The most glaring and outrageous comedy titled “The No Rhapsody” is now showing countrywide. In this show, one Wilfred Machage is depicted as a mean, ill-tempered character whose heart burns with rage and who in the frenzy of igniting his audience often veers off into tangents and asides while hoping to be applauded for his apparent audacity and bravado. His sardonic treatment of politics, helps bring out his inner, primal self, stripped of its civilized veneer.
You will see him superbly rave as his eye balls gyrate in different directions. Being a gallant Kuria warrior he always carries with him a very lethal arsenal-his mouth. Be sure to be treated to his armor-clad syllables that hurtle and rattle out of both sides of his mouth in quick succession.
As he deftly caresses his mane in a somewhat philosophical stance, and as his chest heaves, gigantic are the words he hurls at his perceived political enemies. You are left with little doubt that this man can hew epithets out of stone. I must quickly admit that for a man who is accustomed to using his heart more than his head, I am insensible to his condescension.
He comes out as one who does not regard patriotism, duty to God and country, or allegiance to noble principles as worthy goals. In his estimation society provides a shallow and often evil structure for living. At this juncture one is left with the impression that his opposition to the draft constitution is just but a revolt against the ignominy of his meteoric rise to a ministerial portfolio only to be demoted as fast as the promotion came.
The absurdities and the crudities in which Machage indulges are almost unlimited. At one time, he rants that “his people”, must evict the Luos all the way to Awendo and that the Gikuyu have to be evicted from Rift Valley while the Maasai have to take over Nairobi if the draft constitution passes. And when the law takes its course he instantly cries foul. What Machage fails to understand is that it would be a manifest absurdity for him to say that his liberty was abridged for being punished for doing that which he never had a liberty to do in the first place.
But perhaps the most comical of it all is when he throws tantrums at the two principals. He waxes lyrical that Kibaki and Raila must resign if the “NO” vote wins the day. Really? Shouldn`t Machage think for once that parliament overwhelmingly passed the draft constitution in its current form. Any failure in the passage of the draft at the plebiscite would therefore mean that Kenyans have no confidence (not in the President or the Prime Minister) but in parliament and therefore, it is parliament that must be dissolved and fresh elections held under the current constitution.
By the end of the show, I have no doubt whatsoever that the audience is thoroughly desensitized to Machage`s indifference and insipidness. This show reminds the audience of how far our day-to-day world of politics is from the idealization of comedy.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
You will see him superbly rave as his eye balls gyrate in different directions. Being a gallant Kuria warrior he always carries with him a very lethal arsenal-his mouth. Be sure to be treated to his armor-clad syllables that hurtle and rattle out of both sides of his mouth in quick succession.
As he deftly caresses his mane in a somewhat philosophical stance, and as his chest heaves, gigantic are the words he hurls at his perceived political enemies. You are left with little doubt that this man can hew epithets out of stone. I must quickly admit that for a man who is accustomed to using his heart more than his head, I am insensible to his condescension.
He comes out as one who does not regard patriotism, duty to God and country, or allegiance to noble principles as worthy goals. In his estimation society provides a shallow and often evil structure for living. At this juncture one is left with the impression that his opposition to the draft constitution is just but a revolt against the ignominy of his meteoric rise to a ministerial portfolio only to be demoted as fast as the promotion came.
The absurdities and the crudities in which Machage indulges are almost unlimited. At one time, he rants that “his people”, must evict the Luos all the way to Awendo and that the Gikuyu have to be evicted from Rift Valley while the Maasai have to take over Nairobi if the draft constitution passes. And when the law takes its course he instantly cries foul. What Machage fails to understand is that it would be a manifest absurdity for him to say that his liberty was abridged for being punished for doing that which he never had a liberty to do in the first place.
But perhaps the most comical of it all is when he throws tantrums at the two principals. He waxes lyrical that Kibaki and Raila must resign if the “NO” vote wins the day. Really? Shouldn`t Machage think for once that parliament overwhelmingly passed the draft constitution in its current form. Any failure in the passage of the draft at the plebiscite would therefore mean that Kenyans have no confidence (not in the President or the Prime Minister) but in parliament and therefore, it is parliament that must be dissolved and fresh elections held under the current constitution.
By the end of the show, I have no doubt whatsoever that the audience is thoroughly desensitized to Machage`s indifference and insipidness. This show reminds the audience of how far our day-to-day world of politics is from the idealization of comedy.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Thursday, June 17, 2010
FREEDOM OF SPEECH HAS LIMITATIONS.
Is the regulation of hateful statements and publications consistent with the guarantee of free speech? This is the deceptively frightening question that those against the regulation of hate speech are posing. We have heard them opine that it is unconstitutional for the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), to bar them from peddling dangerous falsehoods.
However, I beg to differ on the grounds that freedom of speech the world over is only guaranteed to the extent that it does not constitute uttering or publishing of false, scandalous, and malicious writings against a legitimately elected government or a section of its people.
In the realization that completely unrestricted freedom of expression leads to infringement on the rights of others, the Kenyan parliament in its wisdom (and in the very presence of those who are belatedly crying foul) found it absolutely necessary to come up with the NCIC whose mandate includes but is not limited to the regulation of hate -filled statements. Then, this piece of legislation was hailed as very sound considering the harrowing experience of the post 2007 presidential election. Today, this piece of legislation is being trashed by the very people who mid-wifed it.
How chilling is it that in this fragile existence, some people find it gratifying to incite us into destroying one another? How is it that an elected leader in the pretext of interpreting an item in the draft constitution should be so callous as to deliver a speech dripping with sarcasm and hate of fellow citizens? How come that such hatred is sandwiched in bombs? Are those opposed to the regulation of hate speech telling us that our right to a peaceful co-existence is simply an accumulated wrong? Since when did the right to oppose the current draft constitution become a carte blanche to purvey poisonous hate?
It must be known that hate mongers and hate groups do not represent nor speak for any section of the people of Kenya. They do so to protect their own selfish interests. Any reluctance on the part of the government to bring the architects of hate speech book will be akin to the government restricting our desire for a peaceful coexistence to the whims of powerful cabal. With every hate speech uttered, the architects of hate speech seek to make Kenyans cow in fear and retreat from the referendum.
I beseech all and sundry not to be deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their kind before. They are the heirs of darkness who have abandoned every value except the will to power—they follow in the path of fascism and totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way, to where it ends: in history’s unmarked grave of discarded lies.
To further underscore the limitation to free speech, allow me to employ the analogy of a madman. You see, it is said that it is only a madman who knows the sweetness in his madness. He therefore has all the rights to enjoy the sweetness in his madness to the fullest. However, the state must ensure that in the process of enjoying this sweetness, the madman does not infringe upon the rights of the citizenry.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
However, I beg to differ on the grounds that freedom of speech the world over is only guaranteed to the extent that it does not constitute uttering or publishing of false, scandalous, and malicious writings against a legitimately elected government or a section of its people.
In the realization that completely unrestricted freedom of expression leads to infringement on the rights of others, the Kenyan parliament in its wisdom (and in the very presence of those who are belatedly crying foul) found it absolutely necessary to come up with the NCIC whose mandate includes but is not limited to the regulation of hate -filled statements. Then, this piece of legislation was hailed as very sound considering the harrowing experience of the post 2007 presidential election. Today, this piece of legislation is being trashed by the very people who mid-wifed it.
How chilling is it that in this fragile existence, some people find it gratifying to incite us into destroying one another? How is it that an elected leader in the pretext of interpreting an item in the draft constitution should be so callous as to deliver a speech dripping with sarcasm and hate of fellow citizens? How come that such hatred is sandwiched in bombs? Are those opposed to the regulation of hate speech telling us that our right to a peaceful co-existence is simply an accumulated wrong? Since when did the right to oppose the current draft constitution become a carte blanche to purvey poisonous hate?
It must be known that hate mongers and hate groups do not represent nor speak for any section of the people of Kenya. They do so to protect their own selfish interests. Any reluctance on the part of the government to bring the architects of hate speech book will be akin to the government restricting our desire for a peaceful coexistence to the whims of powerful cabal. With every hate speech uttered, the architects of hate speech seek to make Kenyans cow in fear and retreat from the referendum.
I beseech all and sundry not to be deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their kind before. They are the heirs of darkness who have abandoned every value except the will to power—they follow in the path of fascism and totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way, to where it ends: in history’s unmarked grave of discarded lies.
To further underscore the limitation to free speech, allow me to employ the analogy of a madman. You see, it is said that it is only a madman who knows the sweetness in his madness. He therefore has all the rights to enjoy the sweetness in his madness to the fullest. However, the state must ensure that in the process of enjoying this sweetness, the madman does not infringe upon the rights of the citizenry.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
TEACHING AS A CAREER HAS HIT AN ALL TIME LOW.
The shortage of teachers in the country is threatening to get worse due to natural attrition and other related causes. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) says that each district in Kenya loses a considerable number of teachers with many others being incapacitated due to HIV/AIDS.
Still, many more teachers are exiting the teaching profession and opting for greener pastures. The situation has become worse to the extent that TSC has resorted to stop teachers from applying for study leave as a way of retaining them in classrooms.
Considering that the number of students attending Kenyan schools is projected to increase in tandem with the increase in the general population it is inevitable that that by 2015 the country will have to content with an unusually large demand for new teachers.
But the problem will still be in getting these teachers since teaching in this country is traditionally one of the lowest-paying jobs. A visit to most teacher training institutions indicates that teaching as a career has hit an all time low.
Ironically, there appears to be no commitment on the part of the government to give this profession a positive image. From a practicality standpoint, policy makers need to put themselves in the position of these newly qualified teachers. Will they want to spend their entire career teaching in an environment that saps a lot of their energies but which offers very little pay with no social mobility at all? My guess would be that very few of these qualified teachers are going to opt for the teaching job.
Even as desperation is quickly setting in, all that the government is preoccupied with is micro-managing schools through an overloaded curriculum and testing mandates without realizing that schooling will continue to fair badly where there is inadequate investment meant for the improvement of this very important human capital.
In virtually all public schools across the country many teachers have had to confront such problems as overcrowded classrooms, inadequate or dilapidated facilities, students suffering from malnutrition and other manifestations of poverty, poor parenting, increased drug and substance abuse among students and inadequate funding for education. The worst of all is the fact that the teaching profession is bedeviled with poor teacher recruitment efforts and poor administrative practices that typically saddle teachers with the most challenging and demanding tasks.
To overcome the above problems the government must first adequately remunerate teachers well to make the teaching profession appealing to newly qualified teachers. The government must also ensure that it pays teachers a lot more in order to attract them to unfavorable parts of this country.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Still, many more teachers are exiting the teaching profession and opting for greener pastures. The situation has become worse to the extent that TSC has resorted to stop teachers from applying for study leave as a way of retaining them in classrooms.
Considering that the number of students attending Kenyan schools is projected to increase in tandem with the increase in the general population it is inevitable that that by 2015 the country will have to content with an unusually large demand for new teachers.
But the problem will still be in getting these teachers since teaching in this country is traditionally one of the lowest-paying jobs. A visit to most teacher training institutions indicates that teaching as a career has hit an all time low.
Ironically, there appears to be no commitment on the part of the government to give this profession a positive image. From a practicality standpoint, policy makers need to put themselves in the position of these newly qualified teachers. Will they want to spend their entire career teaching in an environment that saps a lot of their energies but which offers very little pay with no social mobility at all? My guess would be that very few of these qualified teachers are going to opt for the teaching job.
Even as desperation is quickly setting in, all that the government is preoccupied with is micro-managing schools through an overloaded curriculum and testing mandates without realizing that schooling will continue to fair badly where there is inadequate investment meant for the improvement of this very important human capital.
In virtually all public schools across the country many teachers have had to confront such problems as overcrowded classrooms, inadequate or dilapidated facilities, students suffering from malnutrition and other manifestations of poverty, poor parenting, increased drug and substance abuse among students and inadequate funding for education. The worst of all is the fact that the teaching profession is bedeviled with poor teacher recruitment efforts and poor administrative practices that typically saddle teachers with the most challenging and demanding tasks.
To overcome the above problems the government must first adequately remunerate teachers well to make the teaching profession appealing to newly qualified teachers. The government must also ensure that it pays teachers a lot more in order to attract them to unfavorable parts of this country.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Sunday, June 13, 2010
GRIEF AND CONSTERNATION STRIKE YET AGAIN.
Our country is struck with consternation and an avalanche of grief. The pain is immeasurable; there are not enough words of comfort. But amid all this grief and trepidation, it is my sincere hope that the state intelligentsia will get to the bottom of this harrowing incident and arrest the wily fellows behind this ugly blot in the history of our nation.
Clearly the perpetrators of this heinous act designed it to have psychological effects that would reach far beyond the immediate victims attack. It was meant to frighten, intimidate and draw a wedge between the wider electorate and especially the Christians and Muslims.
Curiously, some individuals in the No Team have remotely been alluding to the emergence of religious intolerance should the draft constitution be passed in its current form. Is this chilling incident a fulfillment of their “prophecy?” Could it be that these latter day prophets of doom elected to use a more dramatic, spectacular, bloody and destructive act of violence to engender the much hyped religious war?
If I someone asked me whether what was witnessed at Uhuru Park was a subterfuge by the No Camp, my answer would of course be in the affirmative for the simple reason that the political wing of the No camp has been desperate to obtain the sympathy, leverage and influence in the August plebiscite.
The temptation to such subterfuge is great among the political wing of the No Team since they have all along been foisting religious intolerance since this is the only way that can make them succeed in swaying public opinion against the draft constitution.
After several unsuccessful attempts at perpetuating hate speech coupled with empty rhetoric on religious intolerance among the Christians and the Muslims, desperation seems to have taken toll on them, and with this desperation, these people must have resorted to desperate measures. Such desperate measures may include the bombing subterfuge at the Uhuru Park rally in a bid to turn back the constitutional clock.
As for the clergy, they must examine the mediocrity and narrowness in a section of the politicians that purport to walk with them. All they want is to use Christianity as a veil to achieving their selfish goals.
This opposition of appearance versus reality only proves that these wily political veterans are very dangerous and are more than capable of thriving on such subterfuge.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.co./tomefrancis
Clearly the perpetrators of this heinous act designed it to have psychological effects that would reach far beyond the immediate victims attack. It was meant to frighten, intimidate and draw a wedge between the wider electorate and especially the Christians and Muslims.
Curiously, some individuals in the No Team have remotely been alluding to the emergence of religious intolerance should the draft constitution be passed in its current form. Is this chilling incident a fulfillment of their “prophecy?” Could it be that these latter day prophets of doom elected to use a more dramatic, spectacular, bloody and destructive act of violence to engender the much hyped religious war?
If I someone asked me whether what was witnessed at Uhuru Park was a subterfuge by the No Camp, my answer would of course be in the affirmative for the simple reason that the political wing of the No camp has been desperate to obtain the sympathy, leverage and influence in the August plebiscite.
The temptation to such subterfuge is great among the political wing of the No Team since they have all along been foisting religious intolerance since this is the only way that can make them succeed in swaying public opinion against the draft constitution.
After several unsuccessful attempts at perpetuating hate speech coupled with empty rhetoric on religious intolerance among the Christians and the Muslims, desperation seems to have taken toll on them, and with this desperation, these people must have resorted to desperate measures. Such desperate measures may include the bombing subterfuge at the Uhuru Park rally in a bid to turn back the constitutional clock.
As for the clergy, they must examine the mediocrity and narrowness in a section of the politicians that purport to walk with them. All they want is to use Christianity as a veil to achieving their selfish goals.
This opposition of appearance versus reality only proves that these wily political veterans are very dangerous and are more than capable of thriving on such subterfuge.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.co./tomefrancis
Thursday, June 10, 2010
FAITH BASED INSTITUTIONS BRAZENLY PARADING INSTRUMENTS OF BLACKMAIL AGAINST ACADEMICIANS.
It appears that the leadership of the Catholic Church is increasingly rating religious devotion higher than professionalism when contracting lecturers. These academicians have their opinions censored by the leadership of the catholic church and they can even be sacked if their political and religious opinions contradict those of the leadership of the Catholic Church.
This is so because recently a lecturer was dismissed from his job at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa for penning articles in a local daily that were inconsistent with the stance of the leadership of the Catholic Church on matters relating to the current draft constitution.
His dismissal serves to reinforce the fact that the leadership of the Catholic Church has lost objectivity and has in fact, resorted to brazenly parading its 'instruments of blackmail arranged to intensify pressure on the people who work in all its institutions to accede to its outrageous demands of opposing the draft constitution.
This unfortunate stance negates the principal of academic freedom that deems it absolutely necessary that academicians have to investigate their respective fields of knowledge and express their views without fear of restraint or dismissal from office. This is because the open and free inquiry within an academician`s field of study is essential to the pursuit of knowledge and to the performance of his or her proper educational function. This then implies that ones tenure of office is dependent largely on ones competence in his or her field and on his or her acceptance of certain standards of professional integrity rather than on extraneous considerations such as political or religious beliefs or affiliations.
Yet this inspiring hatred against academicians is not confined to the Catholic Church. There are many other people who have silently suffered religious discrimination perpetuated by faith based institutions throughout the country. If a lucky Kenyan manages to get a job in such an institution despite his or her beliefs, their problems may not be over. Faith based institutions can decide levels of promotion on the basis of the beliefs of academicians, meaning that there can be a de facto ban on senior posts for those of the "wrong" beliefs even though they wield superb credentials.
Perhaps worst of all, employees can be dismissed for conduct which is "incompatible with the precepts, or with the upholding of the tenets" of the employing faith based institutions. It is up to the governing body of that faith based institution to define the "precepts" and what forms of conduct are "incompatible" with it. The mind boggles to imagine what forms of conduct could be considered cause for reprimand or dismissal.
It is hard to know the extent to which employees are punished for "incompatible" conduct since academicians are unlikely to want to publicize the fact they have been reprimanded and would even find it hard to take a case to a court of law because currently we have very weak legislation protecting employees against such atrocities. This simply means that employees in faith based institutions can be appointed, disciplined, paid, promoted and dismissed according to their beliefs, with very little or no legal protections at all.
The question that must be asked is why the government has failed to justify the religious discrimination visited upon its people? Why is the government not doing anything to tackle this shocking anomaly? Why must faith based institutions preoccupy themselves in shrill opposition to people`s rights and liberties and be allowed to go unpunished? For the sake of the public it is vital that the government listens and does all it can to stop rogue faith based institutions from discriminating their employees on the basis of religion.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
This is so because recently a lecturer was dismissed from his job at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa for penning articles in a local daily that were inconsistent with the stance of the leadership of the Catholic Church on matters relating to the current draft constitution.
His dismissal serves to reinforce the fact that the leadership of the Catholic Church has lost objectivity and has in fact, resorted to brazenly parading its 'instruments of blackmail arranged to intensify pressure on the people who work in all its institutions to accede to its outrageous demands of opposing the draft constitution.
This unfortunate stance negates the principal of academic freedom that deems it absolutely necessary that academicians have to investigate their respective fields of knowledge and express their views without fear of restraint or dismissal from office. This is because the open and free inquiry within an academician`s field of study is essential to the pursuit of knowledge and to the performance of his or her proper educational function. This then implies that ones tenure of office is dependent largely on ones competence in his or her field and on his or her acceptance of certain standards of professional integrity rather than on extraneous considerations such as political or religious beliefs or affiliations.
Yet this inspiring hatred against academicians is not confined to the Catholic Church. There are many other people who have silently suffered religious discrimination perpetuated by faith based institutions throughout the country. If a lucky Kenyan manages to get a job in such an institution despite his or her beliefs, their problems may not be over. Faith based institutions can decide levels of promotion on the basis of the beliefs of academicians, meaning that there can be a de facto ban on senior posts for those of the "wrong" beliefs even though they wield superb credentials.
Perhaps worst of all, employees can be dismissed for conduct which is "incompatible with the precepts, or with the upholding of the tenets" of the employing faith based institutions. It is up to the governing body of that faith based institution to define the "precepts" and what forms of conduct are "incompatible" with it. The mind boggles to imagine what forms of conduct could be considered cause for reprimand or dismissal.
It is hard to know the extent to which employees are punished for "incompatible" conduct since academicians are unlikely to want to publicize the fact they have been reprimanded and would even find it hard to take a case to a court of law because currently we have very weak legislation protecting employees against such atrocities. This simply means that employees in faith based institutions can be appointed, disciplined, paid, promoted and dismissed according to their beliefs, with very little or no legal protections at all.
The question that must be asked is why the government has failed to justify the religious discrimination visited upon its people? Why is the government not doing anything to tackle this shocking anomaly? Why must faith based institutions preoccupy themselves in shrill opposition to people`s rights and liberties and be allowed to go unpunished? For the sake of the public it is vital that the government listens and does all it can to stop rogue faith based institutions from discriminating their employees on the basis of religion.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Saturday, June 5, 2010
POLLSTERS ATTRACT ODIUM USUALLY RESERVED FOR FALSE PROPHETS.
If credibility is defined as believability, then at the moment, credibility is the most of the worries that the pollsters must content with. Pollsters have attracted the odium usually reserved for prophets. Each faction contesting the up coming constitutional referendum believes it has what it takes to effect the biggest surprise of the election that will confound pollsters and pundits alike by winning the referendum by margins far much bigger than the pollsters` current estimates.
Much as I wish to dismiss such sentiments, I think that it is imprudent that we do not succumb to the dark impulses that lurk in the works of the pollsters lest we fall in the worst possible faux pas. Experience has over time shown that polls unwittingly or otherwise overestimate or underestimate the strength of the parties contesting in an election. Take the 1948 and 1992 elections of the United States of America as examples. Pollsters either greatly underestimated or overestimated the candidates` margins of victory. It is such inaccuracies in estimation that made people begin to cast shadows on the credibility of opinion polls.
To begin with the sampling procedures as well as inconsistent sample sizes have led to variations in results. Secondly, even if the basic poll data are valid, analyses of the data is at times too casual and quite superficial. In some instances, the raw data are simply presented as the public's “opinion” without deep and careful analysis to probe nuance and possible bias.
Bias may be manifested in the manner in which the pollster constructs questions to measure the respondent`s responses. It will for instance be unsurprising if the percentage of the public in favor of “forbidding” hate speech were found to be lower than the percentage in favor of “not allowing” hate speech. From the foregoing, a pollster`s question can significantly alter an individual`s measured response.
In addition, results may be correct at the time they are collected, but as we all know, a day in politics is such a long time. Estimates are unlikely to be inconclusive since the vote can shift at the last moment.
The most stinging criticism is however leveled at the polls` appropriateness level. Such polls have been known to influence voters to favor a faction that seems to be enjoying a notable popularity at the time. The information that a certain faction is far ahead in the polls may discourage voters from voting at all or encourage them to vote for that particular faction that is enjoying a roller-coaster courtesy of the pollster thus affecting the results of the election. It is for this reason that I agree with those who are of the opinion that legislation be put in place to bar opinion polls from being conducted two months to the election date. This will ensure a free and fair election.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
Much as I wish to dismiss such sentiments, I think that it is imprudent that we do not succumb to the dark impulses that lurk in the works of the pollsters lest we fall in the worst possible faux pas. Experience has over time shown that polls unwittingly or otherwise overestimate or underestimate the strength of the parties contesting in an election. Take the 1948 and 1992 elections of the United States of America as examples. Pollsters either greatly underestimated or overestimated the candidates` margins of victory. It is such inaccuracies in estimation that made people begin to cast shadows on the credibility of opinion polls.
To begin with the sampling procedures as well as inconsistent sample sizes have led to variations in results. Secondly, even if the basic poll data are valid, analyses of the data is at times too casual and quite superficial. In some instances, the raw data are simply presented as the public's “opinion” without deep and careful analysis to probe nuance and possible bias.
Bias may be manifested in the manner in which the pollster constructs questions to measure the respondent`s responses. It will for instance be unsurprising if the percentage of the public in favor of “forbidding” hate speech were found to be lower than the percentage in favor of “not allowing” hate speech. From the foregoing, a pollster`s question can significantly alter an individual`s measured response.
In addition, results may be correct at the time they are collected, but as we all know, a day in politics is such a long time. Estimates are unlikely to be inconclusive since the vote can shift at the last moment.
The most stinging criticism is however leveled at the polls` appropriateness level. Such polls have been known to influence voters to favor a faction that seems to be enjoying a notable popularity at the time. The information that a certain faction is far ahead in the polls may discourage voters from voting at all or encourage them to vote for that particular faction that is enjoying a roller-coaster courtesy of the pollster thus affecting the results of the election. It is for this reason that I agree with those who are of the opinion that legislation be put in place to bar opinion polls from being conducted two months to the election date. This will ensure a free and fair election.
TOME FRANCIS,
BUMULA.
http://twitter.com/tomefrancis
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