TOURIST LEADERS

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday faulted the education system, saying it had failed to instil good values among students.

He also said the system had not prepared students to compete effectively with global standards.

The PM said rampant corruption, tribalism, and other vices were a sign that education had failed to mould students into better citizens.

“Quality education has slipped out of the reach of many. Very few parents can afford the high-cost schools that dominate the top positions in national examinations,” said the Prime Minister.

Radical changes

Mr Odinga proposed that radical changes be made to enable the system to handle challenges, locally and globally.

“Cheating in examinations is a symptom that the value of honesty has become elusive right from a tender age,” the PM said at a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Bondo Teachers College at Bar Kanyang’o.

He proposed that more focus be placed on early childhood education in reforms.

Separately, Mr Odinga is expected to visit Kiambu soon to tour development projects and meet local leaders.

Lang’ata nominated councillor Sammy Kamau and his Kiambu County Council counterpart David Koine said on Sunday they were finalising plans for the Prime Minister’s visit.

The Kiambu visit will be Mr Odinga’s second to Central Province this year following last month’s trip to Kigumo in Murang’a District.

President Kibaki is also expected to hit the road this week with a two-day tour of the larger Meru region.

The tour will take him to Meru South, Meru Central, Tharaka, and Meru North districts, starting on Friday.

The President is scheduled to inspect several multi-million shilling development projects initiated by the government since he took power in 2002.

He is also expected to open the new South Imenti Tea Sacco Plaza, now the tallest building in the region, before commissioning the Sh8 billion Meru-Githongo-Marimba-Chogoria road.