That memorable moment during any university graduation ceremony, when the dons are elated to bestow on the students the power to read. So, what next after the graduands have been bestowed upon the power to read?
Nyangi Nyamanja in Kisumu believes through reading one acquires knowledge which the reader accumulates then apply in transmitting it to the presumed ‘benefit’ of mankind. Her abstract warning is, “well, to others transmission of some knowledge misinformation and disinformation and fake news could be detrimental.”
And true to mankind’s benefit Dr Bernard Oneko, a Kisii University Don starting from the known says that,”power to read gifts analytical observant, with an undergraduate granted power to read at his level”. The Don adds, “basically, one is given authority to do everything that pertains to the degree worked for and given, and in some great courses like Education, be a jack of all trades.
However, the don strongly believes it means even Philosophy in PHD deservedly, means, ”Lover of Knowledge”
Oneko points out that,” therefore one’s level of analysis should correspondingly grow at whichever level gone through.”
He says if you grow onions, you reap them, and harvest apples after planting them.
University of life
All in all, with the graduation ceremony coming to an end, Paul Jakohera says, “that is the time to test the graduands who then enroll into livelihoods overpopulated university of life.
“This, uneven playing field of livelihood campus complete with shifting goal posts,” he notes.
He adds, “has a dramatic change in syllabus and content, but serves as a rite of passage before the graduand —gets a job in self-employment, or otherwise, or delves into business, if lady luck smiles for miles or a helping hand bails one out.
That is the state I recently met while attending a one-day-old graduand’s thanksgiving ceremony in Usigu Sub-county in Siaya where the principal cleric, not only asked the graduand Christine Awino to be as brave as David whom in 1 Samuel 17: 49— the Israeli God assisted to sling, Goliath, the Philistine to death and went further insisting Awino return her degree to almighty Yahweh.
And after doing that for higher blessings, the preacher asked Awino to reimburse her parents for sacrificing to settle accounts for her schooling up to university.
Her father is a PHD degree holder and mother has Master’s degree— a couple in employment of sorts and unto them the clergyman, unleashed a payload budget to be met by yet unemployed graduand.
Indeed, the priest’s payback budget included Toyota Lexus vehicle and shower among others.
Though Tom Okoth, a parent, in Usigu appreciates the preacher’s divine view, he says, “Despite bearing the cost of our kids’ education, our worlds are different.
Besides expecting my children to lend an ear, listening to me where possible at whatever age, and probably share ideas, we heartily appreciate whatever, they gift us and that is how we were brought up.”
The Kisii University Don returns staggering the idea that: “Whereas there are parents of means who still expect much from their kids, other struggling parents would rather keep scratching for a livelihood despite their well-endowed children showering them into luxury.
READ ALSO: What’s next after university graduation?
“Opisi Onyoyo’s son, a banker, bought him a matatu and he still excavates stones like in the struggling yesteryears, is a striking example in Usigu,” clarified the don.
In the same breath, Carole Ouko a socio-economics coach believes children are taken to school to support themselves- well-grounded and rooted in life.
“After education one ought to develop an economic folk’s mindset, simply staying rational in unsatisfying his wants and needs first.”
Though not ruling out kids helping where necessary in abstraction she adds, “humanity is self-centered and rational.”
“In monetary inducement of action and reaction, for instance if similar goods are on sale at different prices and similar jobs are advertised at differing pay rates, with everything remaining equal and constant, we’ll purchase cheaper priced goods while applying for better paying jobs.”
Respectively, it’s of uttermost importance, she notes kids needs to bag economically gainful engagement (employment) after being gifted power to read.
In this respect, with Awino’s positive determination and sacrifice delivering her from the paws of otherwise makes her deserve felicitations to be gifted the power to read.
Pleasantly, on top of that, the principal cleric’s blessed prayer that Awino walk biblical David’s path in facing future challenges, is welcome, it isn’t lost on us that David bare handedly mauled a lion to death before extinguishing the dreaded Philistine.
Resultantly, Christians continuously glorify David for slaughtering Goliath, without knowing why Israeli and their siblings Philistines (Palestinians) have been in this murderous forever war for eons.
With the power to realize Apala de Aloo reads 2 Samuel 21:19 which says Eilha’nan son of Jaareor’egim slew the feared giant.
Strangely the Holy Bible leaves us in darkness as whether Eilaha’nan too had Yahweh the good God’s hallowed blessing in murder of Goliath.
By Amoto Ndiewo
dennisamotos@gmail.com
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