The plague of under-achievement

The plague of under-achievement of schools has been a topical issue, which has preoccupied educators and other critical stakeholders for a prolonged period of time yet there has not been any visible signs of recovery or concrete and appropriate changes giving hope for a better tomorrow. Over the years there has been so much intense debates about issues of access, quality, relevance and accountability. But it was essentially a repeated case of all huffing and puffing, playing to the gallery, unaccompanied by appropriate actions intended to save our children in schools from the certainty of facing some uncertain future. Here is the problem we have mastered and perfected over the years.

This is a culture of flattering to deceive. We talk big in conferences, make extravagant plans and bold promises when we are conscious of the fact that there is no capacity to execute them or we do not say what we mean and mean what we say. A good and lofty plan without execution is as good as dead.