When i see @Ndindu criticize africans now and them, i must admit that he is mostly on point. Bonobos and coherent thought process is something that cannot be put in the same sentence often.
Now, i was thinking about school uniform and a question hit my mind. Why do most schools have shorts as their uniform especially on the lower levels. Even Starehe boys used to dorn shorts or maybe they still do todate. Whats so special about kaptulas that they have been a part of school uniform for so long. Mostly i dedice it mostly has to do with traditions handed down by our colonial masters the british. After all africans did not even were clothes but rather leaves. The shorts also had some significance in early militaries and police institutions. Remember even the colonial police wore shorts. I guess they were seen as a symbol of discipline, obedience and loyalty. This mentality was carried over to schools, with reward to seniority being ‘promotion’ from wearing shorts to wearing trousers.
Today the shorts still reign supreme especially in africa. Its part of mandatory school uniforms all over. But have we ever asked ourselves whether shorts add any value to our schools. One reason why human beings wear clothes is protection from elements. Weather is a great factor. Clothes insulate us against the cold hitting us and help us maintain our body heat within ourselves. Today, children are forced to wake up very early at a very young age to get to school in the morning chill. Does the shorts they were assist them towards having a comfortable experience that can create a good learning atmosphere? I doubt. But do we even think about it or ours is just to follow what mzungu left us.
The other reason we were cloths is protection. A quick fall will see your bare skin scratch against the bare earth if you are exposed. Shrubs will scratch you more easily if you are wearing nothing to protect your skin. Does a kaptula serve thar purpose well? Again i dont think so. Others may maintain that shorts instil discipline at a young age. I will tell you for sure that all these thieves you see looting our public resources wore shorts almost to adulthood. Infact, many have passed through starehe boys centre but where did their displine go after all that shorts wearing. The village chicken thieves and all these cons and murderers in kamiti wore shorts as uniform for a long time.
Militaries and other disciplined forces stopped wearing shorts when they realized trousers would do a better job. You can have more pockets for your gear and more protection and cammouflage. With shorts your balls are just inches away from a safari ant. If millitaries did it, why not schools. I have seen some private schools that are willing to think outside the box do it. And thats why generally private schools are always ahead of public schools. Public schools and their master the ministry of education are deep in colonial slumber. I thinks shorts as uniform represent our deep mental slavery right fron our colonizers. Its that bad.
Speaking of uniforms generally, africa leads with the mandatory rule for school uniforms. Other more advanced countries are way more casual about it. And it seems to work for them because they are generally more advanced in every parameter including education and research. Here in africa, even with our uniforms mentality, we trail behind leading in all the negative parameters such as poverty, illiteracy and war. No amount of uniforms qill see south sudan be a country to be admired.
Recently, i wrote that for africa to get nearer to where the advanced economies are, we must make quality education accessible to all at all levels and at minimal cost. I recently paid for staff uniform for a form one going student in a public school. The cost was a whooping 18k. Now, that is an item that is adding no value education wise but a cashcow for corrupt head teachers and unscrupulous businessmen. That 18k would have been better used to buy books or even sports equipment equipment that might help identify a talent. So bonobos, lets change this dialogue and emancipate ourselves from this mental slavery.