The High Expectations for Jonglei State New Governor, Hon. Philip Aguer Panyang (Part III)
On Education: People’s Expectations for Jonglei State Governor, Philip Aguer Panyang
By Samuel Reech Mayen, Kampala, Uganda
January 11, 2016 (SSB) —- Brain is the most elastic part of the human body. It takes whatever shape depending on the kind or size of stuff fills into. If it’s filled with necessary stuffs, the output is incredible. It can also shrink when it is left empty. This opens a subjective debate on “how do we shape human brain to produce a desired shaped?”
With the expectations articulated in the sequence of my articles, education is placed as a third priority. Before primary enrolment, children need Nursery school to prepare and orient their minds for the adventures of learning. This level develops enthusiasm in the mind of a child so that he immediately pays attention of what is required of him. The next level is Primary school which lays a foundation for the pupil academic success. Secondary school presents choices of career to a student. This is where a learner decides the kind of career he will be pursuing in the next levels. The College and University shape thoughts, dreams and develop skills for a learner to take new responsibilities in a real world.
Traditionally, people perceive education as a way of learning how to read, write, listen and speak. Yes, these are the purposes for education but there is something more than these. This perception leaves out the core principle of learning which is “Developing the Reasoning Ability”. With this purpose, the curriculum that is delivered in most schools, Colleges and Universities should reflect this fundamental belief. Despite the fact that Jonglei state has been affected by series of conflicts, it is hoped that the new leadership of the new state will revive the education system so that the learners resume their studies all over the state.
To produce thoughtful students as the core principle of education is not a simple task. It is a combination of many factors which includes a kind of curriculum that a country has. The current curriculum is not a bad one though needs to be effectively revised so as to add in stuffs like series of assignments that can make a student curious about the affairs of the society. If the curriculum provokes the mind of the learners to think on certain issues and how to address such problems, then the mind of a learner is prepared for a better future. For instance, instead of a teacher listing on the board the problems that are facing the youth in Jonglei, a student should be given an assignment to identify these problems and how they can be addressed.
Have you ever wonder why some students at certain Universities make discoveries? Nobody is born an inventor. Those who make inventions do it in line with the institution’s mission which shapes them toward reaching that goal. I am not saying that we should invent anything as we speak but I am asking for the journey to start now. It may start today and can be achieved twenty or thirty years later. Time is not an issue but an inspiring goal and the journey toward that goal matters most. Just a simple and realistic goal is what I mean.
Citizens prefer to be governed by scholars because they want their children to be shaped academically. This is one reason why many citizens celebrate the appointment of Hon. Philip Aguer. As his new administration takes over, some of the below challenges are likely to be encountered.
In the new state, there are good numbers of well constructed schools though most of these are primary schools. Almost all of these constructed primary schools are not operating due to the insecurity. In my early 2015 visit to Twic East County, I found Pongborong Primary school marvelously constructed, but there were no pupils since people had left the villages due to the conflict. While sitting in a tea café later in the same month in Panyagoor, I met with numerous primary schools teachers who pointed their fingers to the bushes that they were teachers in Pongborong. Others claimed that they teach in Khiir Primary school. I just knew that they were waiting for their salaries with the names of ghost pupils. But it is something they could not control and they deserve payment like any other public servant. The task is therefore upon the authorities to create conducive environment for learning so that these infrastructures are fully used.
The other issue is the qualification of the teachers. No one expects a successful student from less qualified teachers. In case there are teachers at whatever levels that did not go through secondary school, it is better for them to be given other jobs rather than teaching. They cannot be sacked but must be given adequate trainings and assigned to other duties with in the public service. Most of them established the foundation for education in Jonglei state and they deserve appreciation for that selfless sacrifice. Someone may have a diploma but without secondary school certificate, he cannot teach effectively. Teaching needs teachers who have passed through the educational syllabus and understand how to prepare students not only to pass exams but to shoulder the communal responsibilities when their time comes.
Yes, most of the teachers we have across the state are secondary school leavers. These teachers are qualified. What they need is proper motivation. The management principle for delivery of service states that, “a motivated person with ability performs perfectly”. The salaries for the teachers need to be revised so that children get better education at home. Teachers also need adequate training for they are the guidance of our destiny.
Some teachers at public schools over relax. A teacher misses several classes without clear plan of compensating for the time lost. This is a disaster to learning. Learners prepare their minds for the class and a teacher doesn’t show up. This practice kills enthusiasm of the learners and because they are not sure that their teachers will come, they start missing classes with the assumption that the teacher will not attend to them. This should not be entertained since a teacher is paid to remain in the school premises delivering lessons.
Learners across the states also need to be guided to take their learning seriously. Factors that encourage school dropout should be indentified and addressed. It is true that the state government may do what is good for the betterment of education but not all children can learn as expected.
Learning environment also matters to students. It needs to be safe and encouraging. Teachers must be guided by the principles and Child Act copies should be given to schools so that they understand the rights of the children. Principles of child welfare need to be incorporated into the teachers training manuals so that they understand legal rights of the children. Supplementary policies must also be outlined to maximize the interest of children’s welfare in their learning environments.
It is important to have at least a public boarding secondary school that should be groomed to compete at the national level. This can be supported by the government and admit only students who perform well at the primary leaving exams. This can earn a good name to the state and also encourage pupils to compete for admission in such a top secondary school in the state. With this meaningful competition, the learners are motivated to perform better. Inter-secondary schools debates need to be adapted as a new way of enhancing reasoning and effective argument. The winners should be awarded (the schools and the individuals).
On the other hand, the public should be sensitized of the important of education so that practices such as early girl child marriages are stopped. Any practice which is not in the interest of child education must be abolished and any parent who doesn’t observe must face justice.
The private schools need to be regulated to ensure that they meet the required standard. They should acquire enough lands, employ qualified teachers and adopt the curriculum which is provided by the state as well as the national ministry for education.
At the University level, the same principles apply. The state needs to ensure that Dr. John Garang University is updated to meet the international standard. Students that graduate from this University must be ones that compete at whatever level. These can be achieved if the University is well funded, and the administration is strengthened to ensure that lecturers posses qualification to deliver as expected. There is no problem in hiring foreign lecturers at the mean time. A good salary can also motivate our Diasporas who have earned good education in the western Universities. This University needs to be expanded with enough computers, library and meeting halls where public lecturers are held. It also needs a sport field that can host intern-Universities sports.
If the Universities, Colleges, Secondary and primary schools meet the demand of our learners, they will be attracted to go back and study at home. The simple statistic I see in Uganda tells me that Jonglei state’s youth are very many in the Universities and colleges as well as secondary and primary schools in Uganda. The same is true about the numbers in Kenya. These students pay rents, tuition fees, transport and visas to ensure that they continue with their learning. These huge numbers do not have any reason to study in foreign countries but they are forced by the circumstances. They accept to bear these expensive burdens. The cost of studying in a foreign country doesn’t only affect them as individuals but also drain the national economy into foreign economies.
With a new hope in a new state and new governor, it is expected that the number of learners in foreign countries will reduce as new educational improvements are taken. In liaison with the National Ministry of Education, it is also hoped that private Universities and colleges will be encouraged to invest in Jonglei state to cater for the huge numbers who are eagerly seeking knowledge.
The future of our state as well as the entire South Sudan is in the hands of the young generation. The educational system we establish for this generation is a promise for a better future. That better future starts with a decision, and that decision is in the hands of the current leaders. The task of producing reasonable and hardworking generation in Jonglei State is placed in the hand of the new administration of Hon. Philip Aguer Panyang.
The author is a South Sudanese student in Uganda and can be reached at: mayenreech@gmail.com or +256 772 727 857
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