The general purpose of education, the purpose of education in Kenya, and how it has changed over time.

What is Education

Education is a total process by which human abilities and behaviors are developed (Ndaloh et al, 2009). This is done through imparting appropriate knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the learners to enable their awareness, appreciation and preservation of their cultural heritage and also their creativity in modifying and even shaping this culture for their benefit and that of their society (Mwaka et al., 2013).

What is The Purpose of Education?

The purpose of education is the creation of a compassionate and creative student who will help develop and sustain a just society where all individuals are able to live happy, fulfilled lives — as free from pain and suffering as possible (Roberts 2020). Education has a two-fold function to perform in the life of man and in society: the one is utility and the other is culture. Education must enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the legitimate goals of his life. Education must also train one for quick, resolute and effective thinking. The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. We must remember that intelligence is not enough, Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education (De & Reid, 1947).

Purpose of Education in Kenya & Changes In The Sector Since Independence

A country formulates its educational goals from its general aims in relation to its social, economic and political context (Nasibi, 2003). Goals of any educational system are to be found in the values and purposes of its people. Omulando (1992) argues that goals address the needs and aspirations of a nation because they specify what qualities or values are thought desirable to develop among the citizens of that country. In Kenya, the national goals have led to the development of general objectives in other educational subsectors such as pre-primary, primary, secondary and university(Mwaka et al., 2013).

At independence in 1963, Kenya inherited a system of education that had been designed in colonial times to suit the needs of the colonial administration. The new government found it necessary to revise the whole school curriculum and state clearly the national goals of education in an independent state. This important task was first undertaken by the Kenya Education commission in 1964 which became the well-known Ominde Report. It outlined six National Goals of Education which the educational system was expected to fulfil. These goals were later revised and as explained by the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE, 2002), they are as follows:

1. To foster nationalism, patriotism and promote national unity: Kenya`s people belong to different ethnic groups, races and religions but these differences need not divide them. They must be able to live and interact as Kenyans. It is a paramount duty of education to help the youth acquire this sense of nationhood by removing conflicts and by promoting positive attitudes of mutual respect which enable them to live together in harmony, and foster patriotism in order to make a positive contribution to the life of the nation.

2. To promote the social, economic, technological and industrial needs for national development: Education should prepare the youth of the country to play an effective and productive role in the life of the nation.

3. To promote sound moral and religious values: Education should provide for the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enhance acquisition of sound moral values and help children to grow up into self-disciplined, self-reliant and integrated citizens.

4. To promote social equality and responsibility: Education should promote social equality and foster a sense of social responsibility within an education system which provides equal education opportunities for all. It should give all learners varied and challenging opportunities for collective activities and corporate social services irrespective of gender, ability or geographical environment.

5. To promote respect for and development of Kenya’s rich and varied cultures: Education should instil in the youth of Kenya an understanding of past and present cultures and their valid place in the contemporary society. The learners should be able to blend the best of traditional values with the changed requirements that must follow rapid development in order to build a stable and modern society.

6. To promote international consciousness and foster positive attitudes towards other nations: Kenya is part of the international community. It is part of the complicated and interdependent network of people and nations. Education should therefore lead the youth of the country to accept membership in this international community with all the obligations and responsibilities, rights and benefits that this membership entails.

7. To promote positive attitudes towards good health and environmental protection: Education should inculcate in the youth the value for good health in order to avoid indulging in activities that will lead to physical or mental ill health. It should foster positive attitudes towards environmental development and conservation. It should lead the youth to appreciate the need for a healthy environment.

Kenya is in the process of changing its education system from the 8-4-4 curriculum to the competence-based learning in order to address a number of challenges. The changes are expected to help improve the quality of education in Kenya. These changes have been a long time coming for many reasons, For Kenyans to be able to compete with the rest of the world, it is essential that we have an education system with excellent standards. The old system did not meet global standards, which made Kenyan students less competitive in an increasingly knowledge-based world. It was designed to train students for the industrial era whereas we now live in the knowledge-based era. This change requires us to equip our children with skills that will enable them to compete effectively in this globalized world. The new curricula have been designed with an international perspective which will help promote Kenya’s developments across the globe. Foreign languages such as French, German and Mandarin are now taught in the new curriculum((admin, n.d.).

References:

The purpose of Education. GOV.UK. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-purpose-of-education.

Roberts, R. (2020, March 18). The difference between schooling, learning, and Education. Medium. Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://medium.com/@rohanroberts/the-difference-between-schooling-learning-and-education-9b1968101521.

Mwaka, M., Kafwa, V., Musamas, J., & Kyalo Wambua, B. (2013). The National Goals of Education in Kenya: Interrogating the Achievement of National Unity. https://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JEP/article/viewFile/4530/4598

De, I., & Reid. (1947). The purpose of Education (p. 124). http://okra.stanford.edu/transcription/document_images/Vol01Scans/123_Jan-Feb1947_The%20Purpose%20of%20Education.pdf

admin. (n.d.). Why Kenya Changed Its Education System. Tafuta Kenya. Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://tafutakenya.com/why-kenya-changed-its-education-system/