IN the past week, four incidents in three countries detailed the killing attention African governments give education. We do not believe the cases are isolated. Only their devastating consequences vary from one country to the other.

Governments say education is key to the future of the continent. Governments talk about it, just as they talk about everything. For them talking is working. It is part of the deceit that has left the country in deficit in most areas critical to its survival. Here are the examples of some    governments’ attention to education:

·        Nigeria – A third reported incident (in a year) of primary school students dying while using toilet facilities in their schools occurred. The pit toilet gave way and the pupils died  in the cesspit. Governments since 1999 have been celebrating the provision of VIP (ventilated improved pit) in schools, but those in Alapere (Lagos) where the latest incident occurred are still in their ancient forms, roofless and crowded.

·    Ghana – Some female secondary students protested unusual interests some of their teachers were showing in them: sexual harassment. The teachers claim it is a ploy the students want to use to shun discipline. The authorities are investigating the complaints. The investigations can affect attitude of the students to school.

·    Nigeria – More than 12 university        students, including a pregnant woman, were in critical conditions after a stampede during a test. The students complained that over crowding – about 4,000 students participated in the test, in a hall students say should seat 2,000 students – and a dreaded lecturer who each student wanted to ensure collected his script, caused the commotion.

·    Kenya – The future of millions of primary school pupils is mangled with the discovery that $45 million from money foreigners gave for free education has been stolen. A 2009 audit found $1 million missing. The latest finding put the theft at $45 million. Britain stopped funding in 2009, following the complaints and United States in 2010. Effectively, the programme is dead or would be poorly funded.
Michela Wrong in her 2009 book, It’s Our Turn To Eat, The story of A Kenyan Whistle Blower dealt extensively with malfeasance in the Kenyan government. The book was about former anti-corruption chief John Githongo who fled Kenya to save his life. The book could have been about any other African country with minor changes in details.

When we consider these African settings and the poor governance that causes them, we are afraid that education, with all its possibilities that other nations have explored for greatness, may be primed to stunt the progress of African youth. What should governments do about officials whose conducts are responsible for these obstacles to the future?

A commitment to punishing malfeasance, abuse of office, and negligence of duty will make an example of those involved. The current attitude in government, where officials appropriate public resources for their personal uses, knowing that the laws are too weak to cause them harm, if they are caught, encourages the recklessness that stalls Africa’s development.

Even if we believe it is our turn to eat, must we eat our youth, our future?