V následujícím článku přeloženém z místního deníku můžete vidět reálnější obrázek bezplatného základního vzdělání v současné Keni.Současně přikládám v angličtině články o bezplatném školství a o reakcích – školy nadále vybírají poplatky, uplácí se inspekce, rodiče často odsouhlasí vybírání školného, aby dětem byla poskytnuta výuka a učební pomůcky.No a to nejlepší nakonec – protože peníze určené na bezplatné školství nestačí, následuje krok směrem ke „zlepšení“ – omezení počtu učitelů.Toto je v naprostém rozporu s požadavkem „svazu učitelů“ tzv. KNUT (The Kenya National Union of Teachers), kteří požadují, aby byl zvýšen počet učitelů o 60 000. Překážky zavedení bezplatného základního školství v KeniNěkterá výuková střediska uvalují nesplnitelné požadavky pro přijetí nových žáků – trend, který ztěžuje hladké zavedení nového systému neplaceného základního školství(autor: Samuel Siringi)Právě uplynul jeden měsíc od zavedení systému bezplatného základního školství a objevuje se stále více problémů v souvislosti se zaváděním neplaceného školství do praxe.Jedním ze znepokojivých prvků je nedostatek v efektivní inspekci školství, což by zajistilo hladké zavedení tohoto projektu.Ačkoli je systém jasný, mnoho škol stále vybírá poplatky nebo si klade, pro rodiče jiné nesplnitelné, požadavky.Průzkum prokázal, že jednotlivé školy těží z vládní neschopnosti poukázat dostatečné množství peněz do škol, na zajištění nákupu učebnic, knih a sešitů a dalších učebních pomůcek.Krom toho, některé školy nutí rodiče aby zakoupily učebnice dokonce i poté, co vláda uvolnila 519 mio KSH do 17 000 základních škol (Plus Primary Schools). Každá škola má tak nárok na 28 000 KSH, které měly být na účet školy poukázány do konce ledna. Fond byl zřízen za účelem pořízení učebnic, sešitů a základních učebních pomůcek, jako jsou křídy, houby na tabuli. Další uvolnění peněz do školství se očekává poté, co budou tyto výdaje schváleny Parlamentem.Ale ředitelé škol, kteří jsou zvyklí na dosavadní systém, který jim umožňoval stanovit libovolné fixní poplatky (komentář překladatele: např. vstupní poplatek, náklady na výuku, učebnice, praktika, výlety, školní uniformu)), se snaží co nejvíce zbrzdit zavedení tohoto programu. Během setkání ředitelů škol, které proběhlo v Nairobi na konci ledna, si většina přítomných ředitelů stěžovala, že projekt, který nebyl finančně připraven na konci loňského roku, negativně ovlivňuje jejich již naplánované programy výuky a s tím spojené další aktivity. Někteří z nich argumentují, že v tom případě je nutné uvolnit ještě další zdroj financí na pokrytí již zahájených projektů (např. dokončení rekonstrukcí učeben, výplaty mezd učitelům). Ředitel Městského výboru pro vzdělání (City Education), pan. Josiah Okunu kategoricky prohlásil, že školy musí získat souhlas ministerstva, aby mohly vybírat poplatky od rodičů. To samozřejmě vede k obavám, že někteří z ředitelů škol využijí této příležitosti k přihlášení zbytečně nákladných, či finančně nadhodnocených projektů ke schválení, které pouze povedou k opodstatnění vybírání poplatků od rodičů.Rodiče dítěte, které navštěvuje školu v Kikujské divizi v Kiambu si stěžovali, že žáci běžného třetího ročníku byly posláni domů pro sešity, učebnice a psací pomůcky. Rodiče prohlásili, že schůzka rodičů byla zmanipulována tak, aby bylo schváleno rozhodnutí, že rodiče budou přispívat na sešity a učebnice. Rodiče byli také přinuceni souhlasit platit učiteli, který učí v předškolní třídě, za to že bude učit i v dalších třídách.Ve škole v Machakos, rodiče protestují proti placení managementu školy. Jedna z dalších škol ve stejné oblasti požadovala 300 KSH jen jako vstupní poplatek.V Siayi, v základní škole, byl ředitel degradován za to, že proti vládnímu rozhodnutí vybíral poplatky od žáků prvního ročníku, zatímco ředitel školy v okrese Vihiga byl za vybírání poplatků odvolán. Tyto příklady naznačují, že mnoho dalších ředitelů škol, se bude snažit i nadále vymoci poplatky od rodičů. Ačkoli je ministerstvem zřízena inspekční skupina na provádění auditů základních škol, není její působení zatím příliš efektivní v možnosti dohledu a kontrole jednotlivých základních škol a jejich aktivit.Dalším znepokojujícím jevem jsou narůstající sociální problémy mezi žáky přijatými do stejných tříd z různého sociálního zázemí. Protože nyní jsou školy nuceny přijmout děti ze všech sociálních skupin obyvatel bez rozdílu, stává se, že do školy, která byla původně určena pouze pro děti bohatých rodičů, kteří si mohli dovolit platit vysoké školné, jsou nyní přijímány i děti z nemajetných rodin. Učitelé pak často s těmito chudými dětmi zacházejí s despektem a opovržením, které děti traumatizuje.Právě minulý týden byl jeden sirotek ze základní školy v Nairobi surově napaden učitelem, protože neměl doklad o přijetí na školu. Opatrovník tohoto sirotka si stěžoval, že učitelé sekýrují děti, které byli na tuto školu přijati z neoficiální, (ministerstvem neschválené) školy.Také jedna z matek napsala otevřenou stížnost na ministerstvo školství, že s jejím dítětem bylo špatně nakládáno ve státní škole v Umoji v Nairobi. Prohlásila, že učitelé bijí děti z chudých rodin a dokonce je i vykazují z vyučování, když jim chybí učebnice nebo další pomůcky.Je tedy smutným faktem, že je nezbytné kontrolovat učitele a jednotlivé školy, aby bylo zajištěno úspěšné zavedení projektu bezplatného školství.Výše uvedené příklady by tedy měly být podnětem pro vládu, aby pokračovala v kontrole škol a objevila tak trhliny v systému, které umožňují vybíráni poplatků od rodičů.Helena Jiřincová, volně přeloženo z Daily Nation ze 6.2.2003Další reakce převzané z keńského tisku:Document On Free Education to Be Made Public The East African Standard (Nairobi)February 15, 2003 Posted to the web February 16, 2003 Mercy MwanikiNairobi "If you think Education is expensive, try ignorance."This is the title that was given to the task force report on the implementation of free primary education, that was released this week to the Minister for Education, Science and Technology Prof. George Saitoti.The report, whose contents were not revealed immediately, was said to contain both short and long term effects of the just implemented free primary education in public schools.It contains among other details, curriculum implementation, physical and human resources, issues of children with special needs, the media and finance.The report was presented to the minister at the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE) by Dr Eddah Gachukia, who is the chairperson of the task force committee that was appointed on January 10 to work out modalities on the proper implementation of free primary education.She said the report details on how the free education should be implemented in both rural and urban schools.Saitoti said the report by the task force will help the government avoid obstacles that could deter the proper running and continuation of the new education policy in future. He said the aim is to avoid pitfalls similar to what happened with the implementation of the 8-4-4 system.Saitoti revealed that his ministry had started to implement the new curriculum at the primary level adding that the number of examinable subjects would be reduced further to give students more time to carry out other activities like playing and arts."Examinations are good but a child needs more time for other things like playing and arts so as to develop and prepare them fully for the society," he said.However, Gachukia warned that many school-going children were still out of school due to HIV/Aids and especially girls who were made to stay home to look after their siblings.She said there was a need to form a special team to find out ways of helping them join school. The task force comprised of members from various public institutions, the private sector, and other NGOs. Saitoti said his ministry would scrutinise the document and then make it public in a week.He said the ministry would hold a forum to debate on the document with the task force on March 12. He said free education was making progress especially with the recent financial support and proposals from various institutions like United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and the world bank.So far, the government's free education policy has been promised financial support by such institutions like the World Bank, which pledged about Sh3.9 billion early this week and Sh360 million from Unicef at the beginning of February.Unicef on its part has disbursed a Sh192 million funding to nine districts towards the project.Saitoti said that all children of whatever age or nature should access education freely noting that children as old as 17 years and above had enrolled."We cannot keep these children away as it was not their fault that their parents were unable to afford the levies that were being charged at the time," he said.The free education plan has so far attracted 1.1 million more pupils including girls who were made to miss education in favour of boys.The minister disclosed that the number of school enrolment had risen from 5.9 million to 7 million since the implementation of the programme, adding that another 1 million children were expected to register by the end of the year.Among those present were the education assistant minister Mr. Fred Gumo, director of education Naomy Wangai, other officials were from the Commission for Higher Education, TSC, SUPKEM, KNUT, KNEC and Unicef.Unicef Lauds Free Education PolicyThe East African Standard (Nairobi)February 15, 2003 Posted to the web February 16, 2003 PpsNairobi The executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund, Carol Bellamy, has expressed support for the efforts the Government is making towards providing free primary education in the country.Ms Bellamy said the initiative is a noble idea that deserves to be supported by all Kenyans and the international community.She was speaking at State House, Nairobi, yesterday after holding talks with President Mwai Kibaki.President Kibaki lauded Unicef's contribution towards the development and provision of education in the country, noting that the organisation was currently involved in a crucial programme in Nairobi's Kibera slums, among other areas.On the free primary education, President Kibaki noted, that the programme started early this year was a success and most school going children who had been left out were now attending school.The talks were attended by the Minister for Education, Prof George Saitoti, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Prof Karega Mutahi, Unicef's country representative Nicholas Alipui and the Director of Education, Naomi Wangai.Earlier, President Kibaki received the President of the Lions Club International, Kay Fukushima, who paid him a courtesy call.Mr Fukushima presented President Kibaki with a medal in recognition of the Government's contribution in support of Lions' projects in Kenya.Free Education: Children Miss OutThe East African Standard (Nairobi)February 15, 2003 Posted to the web February 16, 2003 Evelyn KwambokaNairobi Two months after the Narc Government's free primary education announcement, most pastoralists living in Tana River District have not taken their children to school.The pastoralists have not adhered to the Government's call due to the drought that has forced them to move from one place to another in search of pasture for cattle.The patoralists comprise the Orma and Wardei communities living in the district. Tana River District Commissioner, Mr. Raphael Letimalo, said the Government will be forced to take e children to school if the parents fail to do so."Pastoralists should give their children a chance to go to school instead of moving from one place to another in search of pasture for the cattle," he said.He ordered chiefs to report to his office parents who had refused to take their children to school.Speaking in Tana River, Letimalo said it was alarming that less than 100 parents from the patoralist communities in the district had adhered to the call.He said the Government had released Sh3.2 million to be divided among 114 primary schools in the district. In Golbanti Primary School, situated in Ngao division with a population of 200 pupils, only 30 pupils are from the pastoralist communities living in the area.Outgoing headmistress, Ms Winnie Komora, said the school, considered to be the biggest and oldest in the district, had 300 pupils before the clashes that rocked the area last year.She said most parents fled with their children to Malindi and other parts of Coast Province for security reasons.Parents Expose Funds ScandalThe East African Standard (Nairobi)February 17, 2003 Posted to the web February 17, 2003 Barnabas BiiNairobi Parents in Eldoret municipality have exposed a financial scam involving primary school head teachers and auditors from the local municipal council.The parents claimed that some head teachers were colluding with the auditors to fleece school accounts by covering up exaggerated expenditures.Drawn from Union, Kimalel, Race-Course and Sosiani primary schools within the municipality, petitioned Education Minister Prof George Saitoti to order for an independent audit into the books of accounts of the affected schools." The Ministry of Education should intervene in the matter by dispatching independent auditors to assist in unearthing the extent of the scam," said David Kemboi.The parents vowed to raise money to hire services of independent auditors to carry out the exercise in the next two weeks unless the ministry dispatches its auditors.KNUT: Primary Schools Need 60,000 TeachersThe East African Standard (Nairobi)February 17, 2003 Posted to the web February 17, 2003 Amos KareithiNairobi The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has called for the employment of an additional 60,000 teachers.The giant teachers' union says this number is meant to cope with the challenges brought about by the HIV/Aids scourge and the introduction of free primary education.At the same time the union has entered into a deal with the nadian Teachers Federation to introduce country-wide counselling centres to assist teachers infected with the Aids-causing HIV virus.Knut said there was a serious shortage of teachers all over the country as a result of the increased work-load brought about by the increased numbers of pupils in primary schools.Knut Deputy Secretary Lawrence Majali said that the situation was equally bad in secondary schools where there was a high death rate as teachers succumbed to HIV/Aids.Majali said the size of the classrooms in primary schools have increased drastically with some teachers saddled with as many as 250 pupils instead of the usual 40. Majali said that Provincial Directors of Education (PDEs) could no longer cope with national and internal balancing in secondary schools as they fight a losing battle trying to replace dying teachers.Addressing teachers in Nyeri during the local Knut by-election, Majali said the Government should employ more teachers if it wanted the free primary education programme to succeed."We are ready to assist the Government realise its goals of offering quality primary education."We also hope that the Narc leaders will reciprocate and honour their promises to us of implementing the remaining (salary increment) phases," he said. He explained that Canadian teachers had solicited money from trade unions in their country and were ready to assist Knut in establishing centres all over the country to counsel HIV-infected and affected teachers.He, however, said that the details of the cost of the programme were still being worked out, but added that the matter was being treated urgently.During the elections, Mr David Nduriri was elected chairman after trouncing his sole rival Mr Osbert Mwangi Kariuki.Nduriri garnered 479 votes against Kairuki's 408. Mr James Maina was elected vice-chairman while Mr George Wang'ombe won the battle to be the Nyeri Municipality branch executive council member.Majali said Knut and the Government were planning to have a meeting as soon as national officials return to the country so as to work out ways of implementing the remaining salary increment phases.He said teachers were confident of better remuneration since Knut had formed a lobby group led by Nyeri branch executive secretary Peter Munyiri to campaign for Narc during the last General Election.KNUT Clashes With Saitoti On Fees OrderThe Nation (Nairobi)February 20, 2003 Posted to the web February 20, 2003 Nation TeamNairobi The Government and the main teachers' union were yesterday on a collision course over levies charged in public primary schools.Education minister Prof George Saitoti warned that any teacher found charging a levy would be sacked - but the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) said a blanket threat would not work because in some schools, teachers and parents had agreed on levies to cover what the Government did not provide.Prof Saitoti said parents should report headteachers and schools charging the levies to their respective education offices."We have had a few cases here and there of schools asking parents to pay levies. That is against the Government's policy and must be discouraged," he said.Then Prof Saitoti added: "Any teacher found charging fees is breaking the law and will be dismissed straight away."The Knut deputy secretary general, Mr Lawrence Majali, while saying a blanket threat would not work, conceded it was wrong to charge tuition fees because the Government had offered free primary education."Some Parents and Teachers Associations are levying to pay the bills that the Government is not paying," he said. "It's an agreement between teachers and parents. It must be clear whether the minister is talking about tuition fees or other levies to pay for water, electricity and so on. If they have agreed, then how do you punish the teacher?"The official said the minister was studying a report on the guidelines for setting out standard levies but was yet to make a public statement.Before then, Mr Majali said in a telephone interview, it was only possible for schools to supplement the Government budget through some levies.Prof Saitoti, accompanied by assistant minister Fred Gumo, was speaking to the Press in his office after meeting a visiting team from the International Monetary Fund led by Mr Godfrey Kolingo.Many parents have been complaining that some schools continue to charge levies despite a government ban.Hard hit are schools in Nairobi and other urban areas where parents are still being asked to pay levies for exams or for afternoon tuition.Prof Saitoti also said the ministry would restructure the bursary programme for secondary schools to ensure only needy students benefit."We know the bursaries have been abused in the past. But we are restructuring its disbursement to seal all loopholes and ensure only deserving children get the money," he said.The Sh519 million disbursed to primary schools last month for buying learning materials had reached all schools and was positive that it had helped in solving critical problems that arose during the introduction of the free education programme.School committees were, however, cautioned against diverting the funds for other than buying core teaching and learning materials, including chalk, dusters and exercise books.The ministry is expecting to receive additional Sh2.4 billion from revised budget estimates to be approved by Parliament next month.During the meeting with the IMF, the head of the delegation said their mission was to establish how the new free education programme would affect the budget.Mr Kolingo added: "IMF does not give funds neither does it deal directly with ministries. But the education programme is unique, so we need to understand how it works."He was accompanied by IMF country director Samuel Itam and World Bank education consultant James Kamunge.In Mombasa, Mayor Taib Ali Taib made an impromptu tour of council primary schools and said he was shocked to learn some heads still charged fees.Mr Taib confiscated their receipt books and demanded an explanation.Accompanied by councillors and town education officials, Mr Taib called at Serani primary school in the morning and confiscated receipt books in spite of protests by the schools authorities who argued the fees were a matter between them and the parents.The mayor's visit came after parents complained that school committees were colluding with the heads to demand fees.Mayor Taib advised Mombasa residents who had paid fees to council schools to report to his office. Immediate action would be taken against those found violating the government directive on free education, he warned.Worried teachers attempted to convince the mayor that the schools were not charging fees for education but were asking for other funds agreed between teachers and parents. Mr Taib gave the town's deputy education officer, Ms Truphena Kirongu, up to 4pm yesterday to report to the council how this had come about.Reported by David Aduda, Mugumo Munene and Ngumbao Kithi. Govt Admits to Shortage of TeachersThe East African Standard (Nairobi)February 24, 2003 Posted to the web February 24, 2003 Patrick WachiraNairobi The Government yesterday conceded to an acute shortage of teachers following the introduction of free primary education.The Permanent Secretary for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Karega Mutahi said the ministry was still compiling data from the field and was assessing the situation.The PS did not give figures to indicate the extent of the problem but he said the problem was real.Mutahi asked the Teaches' Service Commission (TSC) to consider freezing further promotions for teachers in the country, saying there were no funds to pay the new scales.He also said that promotions for teachers will in future apply to individuals who had attended management courses as a way of curbing mismanagement in schools.He called for severe cost-cutting measures in the ministry, especially the TSC, saying it was reaching a worrying situation that the tax payer was finding in increasingly impossible "to meet our cost"."We are behind schedule in meeting our obligations. Are we able to finance the cost of what falls within our mandate?" he posed, stressing the need to reduce costs.The PS was speaking yesterday at the TSC headquarters where he was taken on a tour and later addressed TSC top brass and departmental heads.Saying that in the Financial Year 2001-2002 some requirements in the TSC budget were not accommodated in the budget, Mutahi told the commissioners: "Your needs should only go as far as the taxpayer can meet your operations!".Said he: "Even when you negotiate with the teachers union (KNUT), stick to what you can pay! It is a major problem."Mutahi reminded the commission that in the same financial year, (2001-2), the commission faced a shortfall of Sh 1.2 billion and was likely to face a bigger shortfall this time round."If we have no money to pay those already promoted, should we promote more?" posed the PS. He said that discipline cases for teachers should be handled within a month.