Post-Colonial Confusion

Game Day at Central Primary

Central Primary is just beyond the wall outside my bedroom window. Their school uniforms are dark grey pants and skirts and grey and white tops. I don't particularly like the colors. But the kids don't seem to mind. They have a Game Day today and play soccer, volleyball and basketball. They make lots and lots of glorious noise; singing, cheering and screaming for their favorite players to score. The games go on until dark, when the shouts and chatter subsides and makes it way slowly down the street we live on, filtering in through the front window as well as the back. School days, school days, dear old golden rule days. But those skirts have to go. Little girls should be able to climb and jump and play soccer without fear of showing their unmentionables. They need a level playing field. And I won't even go into the fact that children must have school uniforms to attend school. Many, many children can't afford them, nor the 400 shillings due the first year to buy their desk and chair. the desk and chair will follow them through all eight years of primary, but that 400 shillings keeps many from entering even the first level. Although primary school is "free," many children, particularly orphans, do not attend. Why the uniforms, I ask. It seems they're a holdover from Britain's rule of the country. Crazy to me that a child is denied free education because they can't afford the clothes. And crazy how little girls don't play volleyball or soccer or basketball because that's what boys do and because the girls are wearing skirts. It's enough to make you cry if you think about it too long.