This archive report was first published on 17 August 2019.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's recent advice to parents to stop pressuring their children over degrees and exams has sparked a heated debate online.
On Friday, the President lectured Kenyans on the importance of nurturing talents under the new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), citing examples of successful individuals who did not attend university.
“After all wale wanatawale pesa ya hii yetu, uliangalia Yule steve Jobs wa Apples na Bill Gates, hakuna moja wao alienda university lakini wakija hapa unaona ma professors wanakimbia kushika mikono zao na kuomba kusaidiwa,” said the President.
However, Kenyans have pointed out the lack of similarities between the President's examples and the challenges faced by Kenyan youth.
“Bill Gates and Steve Jobs never grew up in a third world country which we are. We have the talents but we need resources to nature them,” commented @Teddy_izoe.
Others have argued that the President's advice is unrealistic, given the current state of education in Kenya.
“With all due respect to our Head of state, yes education may not be the only key, but look at the education systems present in those countries and compare with what is being offered. For some of the youth out there an education is the only hope. Nothing comical here,” @JamesMwadeghu commented.
