The worst crime we ever committed; Devaluating education

[Lamagoodle]

Somalinet editorial

It is no wonder that the first verse of the quran is “Read”. If you can read you can seek wisdom and knowledge.

The prophet has been reported as saying “seek education even it entails undertaking a journey to China”.

Education is the key to not only intellectual soundness but it also provides us with knowledge on how to tame our environment. All around us there are artefacts of learning; medicine to fight diseases, economic systems, societal evolutions etc.

Education shrinks cultural, economic as well social distances. It is the light that guides us in a murky and uncertain world. It gives us the ability to engage in endeavours, compete in a world characterized by global transgression of knowledge, innovation, and learning.

A major victim of our 20+ years of quagmire is education. It has suffered irreparable damage because of the devaluation which begun in the 1980s.

We can rebuild destroyed houses, we can grieve our beloved ones and move on, we can even reconcile our differences but it will take time to rebuild our historical confidence in education as a lever of development.

Prior to the 1980s, education was viewed as the key to unlocking our potential. The term “bar ama barro” became the mantra of the Somali government at that time. Through a system of meritocracy, the only way to move on the ladder of meritocracy was through education.

One might argue against the significance of Marxism in nation building, but one of its key points of departure is that education is not a monopoly for the rich. An underlying assumption of scientific socialism which was embraced by the kacaan was empowering the masses through education. Through education circles, the idea was to engage the masses in analysis and discussions to better their wellbeing.

Due to several reasons, the Marxist government lost its esteem. We could dwell into the reasons but that will take pages to describe, years to analyse and decades to find a synthesis.

Since the outbreak of the civil war, the institutions of education and justice have been effected most. They all but collapsed. Although there are positive oasis of education (Mogadishu, Bosasa, Hargeisa and Borame) , undeniably the education system has collapsed. Why shouldn’t it not when warlords, political entrepreneurs and pirates- who are often illiterates- could earn money and gain power? When the illiterates undertake hazardous journeys to cross seas and deserts?
In the diaspora, the story is the same. Education has been devalued. Without generalising, it is safe to say that many Somali students do not attend universities. This is expected because many Somali parents are busy in engaging in issues that has nothing to do with living in the diaspora. Marfish, fadhi-ku.-dirir discourses consume our precious times.

How will a teenager on his way to school react when he meets losers loitering in cities, sitting in cafeterias or standing in a square and discussing puerile issues? It is not unusual that the treatises of these losers centre on “war anagaa waxbarasho wax ku waaynee, maxaad iskoolka ku fali”?

In Europe, it is common to have festivities when students graduate from secondary schools. You will see Somali mothers and occasionally fathers, displaying pride that their son/daughter has graduated: They wave flags, organise parties and will happily boast about their achievements. Ironically, many of the parents did not read the transcripts and many of the kids will probably end up on the village parliament (fadhi ku dirir). They could also become keyboard warlords while their peers continue to universities.

There are some barriers of course and I am not claiming that every Somali is a loser but we have lost key trait; the importance of education. In the good old days, the word “Damiin” was a horrific word to describe someone who had difficulties in learning. A proud moment for every parent was one when one of their kids exhaled in school. Soon the success of the kid flooded the village talk and every mother and father said to his or her kids “next time, make sure to beat that kid”. Today, this word is absent from our vocabulary. We do not name and shame losers who are becoming the role models for our offspring.

The African concept of “it takes a village to educate a child” is all but gone. It has been replaced by it takes TV and the Internet to educate my child.

We do not ask our kids about their education. We instead indoctrinate them with sick tribalism and give them the impression that making easy money is not that hard.

A few years ago, there was an anecdote which circulated around; a researcher from Canada did a study on the expectations of immigrant kids; the Vietnames, the Indians and other Asians kids as well as other kids said they wanted to become doctors, teachers, police etc. The Somali kids were reported to have said “president.” It is no wonder that political positions are the most favoured when the parents times are consumed by politics; listening to the BBC and discussing paltry Somali politics is captured by kids.

The Somali parent leaves the task of parenting to the media; The internet and the TV have become the true parents. No one helps the kids with their homework. They do not participate in school meetings (some mothers do but there is often a language barrier).

Any ideas ?

[BlackVelvet]

and father said to his or her kids “next time, make sure to beat that kid”

Surely it can't be that bad. Yes I can imagine that for people living in their tuulos with no running water, there are more important things than sending kids to school but for the most part I do believe our people get educated or at least send their kids to school - what they learn when they get there is a different matter. All my qaraabo back home that I know of are sending their kids to school, all my neighbours here have gone to uni. Most young Somalis I have met have had some level of education - degree level if not higher.

Where are you meeting these uneducated, depressing, social leeches?

[Lamagoodle]

I like your sanguinity Blackvelvet. Come to mainland Europe and see it for yourself.

[BlackVelvet]

You know earlier today I was just wondering how different my life would be if I'd lived around Somalis. I was kinda feeling sorry for myself to be honest for not having Somali neighbours or that community feeling around me. Lakin sheekada haddi ey saan tahay perhaps I should just be grateful.

[grandpakhalif]

“seek education even it entails undertaking a journey to China”.

fabricated hadith - lie against the Prophet

http://wikiislam.net/wiki/List_of_Fabri ... o_to_China

[Lamagoodle]

“seek education even it entails undertaking a journey to China”.

fabricated hadith - lie against the Prophet

http://wikiislam.net/wiki/List_of_Fabri ... o_to_China

Ok. Thanks for the correction. Are you sure though? or is it the case that Salafis are selective when it comes to Hadiths?

Blackvelvet, back home in Somalia (when it was peaceful) having somali neighbours was an asset in terms of gaining education. In the diaspora, it is a liability because there seems to be a race to the bottom.

[Anarchist]

There was always a disparity in intellectualism among Somalis for as long as I can remember, but it was easier to avoid certain classes of society before the war. After the civil war, people who were once separated by either region, social class or profession now all found themselves scattered & jumbled together. If you were a student of Kuliyada Beeraha pre-1991, chances of you running in to a day laborer in your inner circles & striking up a conversation was next to nil. All that of course changed and people who have no business talking to each other are now forced to face each other. I was talking to a good friend of mine about this a while back and we both agreed the reason why now more than ever we see so much ignorance is because of the intellectualism void the war created and the breakdown of social barriers. The war also created a whole generation who were effectively denied education, specially women more than men, whatever few Somali educated women we once had have become a shrinking breed. Often becoming swallowed up by the larger, more ignorant segments of society. Ignorance breeds ignorance, and the ignorant always want everyone else to remain ignorant. Al-shabaab have shown us this more than anyone else by drawing up the religious fervor card & using slogans like "Western education is not for Somalia." It's always been about a few using whatever necessary for their own self preservation, while keeping everyone else down.

[Marques]

I'm with BV on this to an extent...education has not all but died out. Yes it is truly the case that Somalis are under-achieving compared with other ethnic minorities...but the light of education in Somalia and abroad has only withered but not been blown away completely. This is why the Universities in MOG and the Amoud Universities were ranked pretty well in the ranks of African institutions of further studies...If anything, Somali parents all wish and push their kids to seek education to the best they can (i don't mean the parents play an active role in liaising with teachers for their kids performance but the average Somali parent will never allow his/her child to sit around without an ambition to get some kind of education done).

[Twist]

There was always a disparity in intellectualism among Somalis for as long as I can remember, but it was easier to avoid certain classes of society before the war. After the civil war, people who were once separated by either region, social class or profession now all found themselves scattered & jumbled together. If you were a student of Kuliyada Beeraha pre-1991, chances of you running in to a day laborer in your inner circles & striking up a conversation was next to nil. All that of course changed and people who have no business talking to each other are now forced to face each other. I was talking to a good friend of mine about this a while back and we both agreed the reason why now more than ever we see so much ignorance is because of the intellectualism void the war created and the breakdown of social barriers. The war also created a whole generation who were effectively denied education, specially women more than men, whatever few Somali educated women we once had have become a shrinking breed. Often becoming swallowed up by the larger, more ignorant segments of society. Ignorance breeds ignorance, and the ignorant always want everyone else to remain ignorant. Al-shabaab have shown us this more than anyone else by drawing up the religious fervor card & using slogans like "Western education is not for Somalia." It's always been about a few using whatever necessary for their own self preservation, while keeping everyone else down.

That is not an anarchist thing to say, is it? Can you elaborate that highlighted part a little bit, if you don't mind, awoowe? I always thought class system and societal division was part of the problem we have, someway, no?

[Kafkaesque]

There was always a disparity in intellectualism among Somalis for as long as I can remember, but it was easier to avoid certain classes of society before the war. After the civil war, people who were once separated by either region, social class or profession now all found themselves scattered & jumbled together. If you were a student of Kuliyada Beeraha pre-1991, chances of you running in to a day laborer in your inner circles & striking up a conversation was next to nil. All that of course changed and people who have no business talking to each other are now forced to face each other. I was talking to a good friend of mine about this a while back and we both agreed the reason why now more than ever we see so much ignorance is because of the intellectualism void the war created and the breakdown of social barriers. The war also created a whole generation who were effectively denied education, specially women more than men, whatever few Somali educated women we once had have become a shrinking breed. Often becoming swallowed up by the larger, more ignorant segments of society. Ignorance breeds ignorance, and the ignorant always want everyone else to remain ignorant. Al-shabaab have shown us this more than anyone else by drawing up the religious fervor card & using slogans like "Western education is not for Somalia." It's always been about a few using whatever necessary for their own self preservation, while keeping everyone else down.

That is not an anarchist thing to say, is it? Can you elaborate that highlighted part a little bit, if you don't mind, awoowe? I always thought class system and societal division was part of the problem we have, someway, no?

[Twist]

Kafka, don't you think? lol

A few years ago, there was an anecdote which circulated around; a researcher from Canada did a study on the expectations of immigrant kids; the Vietnames, the Indians and other Asians kids as well as other kids said they wanted to become doctors, teachers, police etc. The Somali kids were reported to have said “president.”

Lam, I have a feeling you've just made that up but still it's funny. lol

[SummerRain]

I think we can go as far as saying that those who hold degrees are just holding a piece of paper and did nothing substantial with their education. Most still want to hold leadership postions i.e community leaders, political leaders, presidents without any work to show for. So you have those devaluating education, or those who do get educated yet can't hold a job. Dhibaato.com

[InaSamaale]

There are many practical ways to teach the love of knowledge. I remember a well-grounded shaykh mentioning how his parents prohibited books, pens, spare pieces of paper from being on the floor, as they are a means or a physical representation of knowledge and something as esteemed as knowledge shouldn't ever be on the floor. I think that level of long-term conditioning is apt.

Unfortunately in our community we value education but not knowledge itself.

[Anarchist]

That is not an anarchist thing to say, is it? Can you elaborate that highlighted part a little bit, if you don't mind, awoowe? I always thought class system and societal division was part of the problem we have, someway, no?

No, it isn't. Often I come across people who complain of the lack of intellectual diversity within the Somali community or what appears to be the abundance of the ignorant masses. What you read was my attempt at explaining this i.e. the war caused the break down of social & geographical barriers that at one point either limited or downright denied contact between peoples from different classes & backgrounds. Not sure how social hierarchy alone can lead to a civil war. Social hierarchies and classes have been present with us for as long as humanity has recorded its history, Somalia wasn't an exception to the rule. It was present growing up there and it was accepted. Geeljires stayed with their camels, farmers stayed near their farms, bureaucrats stayed within their circles and academics with like minded individuals. If you came from a literate household, chances were that you were exposed to other literate & learned individuals - thus leaving no room for cross-class interactions with the other groups of society. But, after the war - people from all walks of life are now sitting together in restaurants among other places and now more than ever it is apparent that the non-literate have always outnumbered everyone else, we just were not as exposed to them. Does that make sense, awoowe?

[PrinceDaadi]

What is education?