Being in Britain for the first time has been a learning experience for me as a Southerner. Having come with my own preconceived ideas of what Britain is, I was able to look at it both objectively and subjectively. I must say that being an educationalist and a parent as well, the educational sector has been of much interest to me.

With two sons in school, my main concern is for the quality and quantity of education that they receive. What exactly are they learning? If they were given a blank map of the world, how well would they be able to point out where Africa is? Jamaica? Other parts of the world ? Would they be able to discuss a few things about different parts of the world. In other words, is their education them to be global citizens? Education should develop a rounded person: one who can fit in their own country, as well as the world without. Children should learn about slavery, colonialism, and how their country participated in all of this. When the children ask why there are black people in Britain, what do we as parents, teachers, and society as a whole tell them? They should be able to learn about the South, especially its past, objectively, and be taught the fact that though there are a lot of animals in Africa, the people themselves do not swing from trees.

Education should also address those issues that are seen to be thorny. As an example, the school, and society has the responsibility to teach our growing children about love. They should be able to understand that colour is skin deep, and beneath this skin is a person that bleeds red, whose heart beats 72 times a minute, who feels physical and psychological pain and that every person, no matter the colour of their skin appreciates love. What tone, gestures, and facial expressions do we use when talking about issues of race and colour? One day, one of my sons came home and said tome "mum, one of the boys in school said that I smell, yet I bathe every day, why?" That was a most painful question for me. He said the teacher told him that these are 'normal' jokes. But, to him, it was not a joke. He was traumatised, because he viewed it from a colour perspective !

Sadly, these attitudes prevail in many of the children and parents I have encountered. Being an educationalist, I must say that this is disappointing to me in view of how I understand education to be defined - that education is life, and life is education, and not just schooling. Children must be taught as much as possible about life, the society they live in, and the world as a whole in order for them to understand and appreciate themselves and others too. And if our parents and teachers are not well equipped to deal with this, it is high time steps were taken to rectify this.

I do not want to be misunderstood by appearing to be almost all negative. I do see very positive things about British schools. For example free and compulsory schooling, not overloading students, as well as the fact that the examinations are not the only thing that matter in education. However, as an educationalist, I appreciate the positive and highlight what I think ought to be addressed.

Susan Chieni is a lecturer in education in Kenya

Associated articles

Action for Inclusive Education

National Black Youth Forum Charter of Rights

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