September 3rd - Vancouver Education, Property Tax & Kenyan Politics

I haven't ranted for a while but this one has been stewing with me ... in the spring, I learned that schools in Vancouver are funded by the property tax of the NEIGHBORHOODS in which they are based. So the schools in the wealthy area of town get more money than the schools in the poorer neighborhoods. And it is compounded by the fact that parents in the wealthier areas have more money for extras (e.g. field trips, programs etc.) than parents in the poorer areas. How is this possibly right? Children should be educated with the same resources to the same standard no matter where they live in a city, province or country. These kids are our, COLLECTIVE OUR, future and it can not be right to discriminate between them based on how well their parents do financially. I am not 100% sure it is true – largely because to me it seems so fundamentally wrong that I can't believe others, including teachers unions, would let it be this way without saying something - but if it is true, then I want to do something about it when I go home. And I am genuinely curious to understand the perspective of parents. As you can tell, this really winds me up – and it has only been reinforced more by my experience here, especially when I see such incredible disparity in everything, but especially education, between these two neighborhoods – one rich and one poor - that live beside each other.

There is not a direct link to my thoughts on Kenyan politics – if anything, I figured this way there is only one blog to either read or skip depending on your interest :-) I've had great conversations on the situation here with a number of people – from GVI staff who've been here 5+ years to Moha and others. I knew very little coming in and was curious to understand more, especially about the situation after the last election. What surprised me most was the strength of tribalism within the political system – and how the compromises coming out of that struggle for power have only created larger government bureaucracy (doubled the size and cost of government ministries) and lined the pockets of more people. My favorite compensation expression of 'there are no disinterested parties' seems to apply in spades here. There is money in the country – you see it in the parking lots of the wealthy supermarkets and apparently it is very visible in Nairobi – but with the corruption, the money is just so tightly centralized with a few. One story I heard was that there is a sugar shortage, with the supply constricted, the price rises, the packages sold become smaller – and yet, apparently there is sugar in containers in port, it is just not let in. Government ministers apparently make decisions that benefit their companies. Then, apparently, the individual tasked with leading the anti-corruption initiative within Kenya doesn't want to do it – if he doesn't believe it is possible, then what? And if a government is one tribe centric, then I do understand how the situation of the last election happens, of course the other tribes want their share. But for the country as a whole, it is disastrous and doesn't give confidence for the future.

Is there hope? I'm not sure. I don't know enough (as you can tell from all my “apparently”'s) to say for sure, but from the little I do know, a positive path forward is very hard to see. I believe the answer must be found from within Kenya – there is money in Kenya and the government needs to be held accountable by the people for how that money is spent – education vs. healthcare vs. debt payments vs. ministers salaries. I start to understand more why revolution and socialism have merit - when focused on benefiting the whole and not a subset of the population – not that I am losing my conservative tendencies but clearly capitalism in the form of corruption is not working here.

What role does the rest of the world have to play? Again, I'm not sure – the premise of Dead Aid (which I still haven't read yet) is that more aid is not the solution and from what I know I agree. If anything, our actions must not condone or facilitate corruption and need to reinforce accountability - and ideally, our actions should demonstrate a purity of intent versus simply satisfying our own political self interests – unfortunately, there never seems to be a shortage of 'interested parties'.

I also have to say, there are good things happening within Kenya – they are committed to getting strong internet and wifi into the country which can only help education, and global connection - and they are on hydro-electric power which is great from a conservation perspective (it does makes things a little more challenging during the dry season ... but the planned power cuts are very manageable).

I also believe there is a role for help but at the micro level – whether finance, education, health or conservation. What GVI is doing at Olives is a drop in the bucket – I think there were two other schools on the 10 minute walk between the house and Olives and I've no doubt they need help as well. But it is an excellent example of directed, grassroots support through partnership as opposed to 'aid' - and which is what they want as was reinforced by Steven, the director of the school.

I want to be optimistic and have hope and faith in the future of Kenya – the people I met were lovely, so warm and welcoming – but it is the kids for whom I have the greatest hope and fear – they so deserve a better future and unfortunately, from what I've seen, by 18, and I'm sure earlier, they have no illusions.

Ok – I'm off my soap box for at least a little while ... :-)