Maangi, Valerie: Paglia

The Future of the Arts in Kenya

Camille Paglia states in her article that schools today do not provide meaningful education that leads to a personally fulfilling career. Professors are just shaping students into mirror images of themselves, divorced from any rational consideration of happiness. Students graduating today are going into the world with little knowledge of life outside their professional class. Students today are not skilled in any craft.

The education system in Kenya has come a long way. Just like here in the United States, schools were segregated along racial lines. With the onset of independence, schools were merged and in 1980, a new education system 8.4.4., was introduced. The first 8 years of primary education would include English, Swahili, Mathematics, Science, Music, History, Civics, Geography and Religious Education. Vocational subjects such as music, home economics leather work, woodwork and metal work would also be taught. These subjects are well defined in the program of study and should make a Kenyan education among the region’s best.

If the curriculum were to be implemented as designed on paper, it would make an ideal education system. However this is not the case. A lot of emphasis is being given to the sciences as compared to the arts. Many students are advised by their high school teachers to take subjects such as physics, biology chemistry and math. Each one of them it seems has the ambition of being a neurosurgeon, an architect, or a pilot because this is what is considered as acceptable in the society. None of them is ever heard saying that they would like to be a designer or a painter. Such professions are seen as mundane.

With little attention being paid to the arts, that industry is on the decline. After tourism I believe that that it should be the second largest industry given the fact that when tourists arrive, they buy the locally made stone and wooden carvings and beaded ornaments. Some are willing to pay as much as ten dollars for something that only costs three dollars to make. Not much emphasis is being put on the arts and those who dare venture into it are not able to secure good jobs as their counterparts who decide to go into the business or science field.

Primary education in Kenya is free. However not everyone is able to afford secondary and university education. The government should invest in the arts field and set up centers around the country that provide an alternative means of education other than that provided in high schools. This is an untapped field which, if enough concentration were focused on it, a lot of rewards will be reaped.