Mojawapo ya sababu za kuendelea kuwa na watoto mbumbumbu

Kwenye nchi zinazojali elimu na mambo mengine ya kuelimisha jamii, mwandishi kama huyu angeshasahau taaluma yake na kuanza kujifunza kuchoma mihogo (na hapo ni kama itakuwa mihogo ya kweli).

This is one of the shocking and probably the highest degree of negligence I have ever heard (or read in that matter) in the book industry. No wonder in some countries, school text and reference books always have to be among the list approved by a special committee which oversee all the teaching materials.

I received this message via an online e-group, I think it was originally intended for Mr. Issa Michuzi to be published on his blog for audience to take note and suggest the way forward (if possible, legal action). The message reads:

Ndugu Michuzi, 

Kwanza nikupe pole kwa kazi unayofanya kuelimisha jumuia. Leo naomba kutumia blog yako kuonya wazazi wenzangu na walimu kuhusu vitabu ambavyo watoto wetu wanatumia ilikujiongezea maarifa. Kitabu hichi ni cha Science kinaitwa "Primary Science Workbook - Fountain of Tests and Examination" by DASIANUS B. CORNEL. 

Binti wa rafiki yangu yupo darasa la 6 naweza kumwita binti yangu, sasa hivi yupo kwenye likizo ya muhula wa kwanza mpaka Tarehe 25 April 2009. Akiwa likizo nilikwenda kununua vitabu vya mazoezi kwenye maduka mawili maarufu kwa vitabu hapa mjini Dar es Salaam, Seifi Impex and Call Kwik. Siku hiyo ilikuwa ni sikukuu ya Mabohora so Call kwik lilifungwa nikaingia Seifi Impex nikaulizia vitabu vizuri kwa ajili ya mtoto wa Darasa la Sita na kupewa kitabu kilichotajwa hapo juu kama kimoja cha vitabu vizuri vinavyotumika mashuleni. 

Niliphotocopy kitabu na kuanza kumpa binti yangu maswali wakati wa kusahihisha ndipo nilipo gundua kwa nini rate ya watoto wanaofeli shule ni kubwa kwa sababu inachangiwa na vitabu kama hivi ambavyo wanaoviandika hawachukui muda kuvisoma. Kwenye moja ya majaribio Mr. Cornel amekosea maswali 16 kati ya 50 nilishitushwa na hili swala nikampigia rafiki yangu Light kumwuliza what can one do in such a situation akanishauri nipige simu kwenye namba iliandikwa kwenye kitabu. Nilijaribu sikufanikiwa mwisho wake nikaamua kwenda Dukani labda wananjia ya kuwasiliana na waandishi kwani wote wapo kwenye sekta moja. Nilivyokuwa nje ya duka nikajaribu kupiga simu 0754 778423 kama ilivyoandikwa kwenye kitabu na safari hii ilipokelewa nikaeleza shida zangu lakini mwenzangu ambaye ndio mtunzi wa kitabu Mr. Cornel alishikilia kuniambia kuwa hiyo ni typing error or human error nikamwambia kuwa ni asilimia kubwa sana nashindwa kuamini na kuendelea kumpa mtoto kutumia kitabu chake akaniambia yupo safarini Arusha hawezi kufanya kitu mpaka atakaporudi Dar Es Salaam baada ya wiki tatu. Niliendelea kumweleza kuwa mtoto anaondoka jumamosi kurudi shule kama anaweza kunitumia copy halisi aliyonayo yeye ya majibu ili nimpe mtoto atumie akasema ni typing error na nimsubiri mpaka. Je ni watoto wangapi wanasoma hichi kitabu kila nusu saa ipitayo na damage ya aina gani inaendelea kufanyika wakati mtunzi yupo Arusha mpaka atakapo rudi kuongea na mimi na wala si kusahihisha? 

Nikamweleza kuwa naenda kuwaambia walioniuzia kitabu wasiendelee kukiuza mpaka akirekebishe na kweli nikashuka kwenye gari na kuingia dukani nikawasimulia shida niliyokuwa nayo wakanipeleka kwa Dada mmoja anayeitwa Fatema wa hapo Seifi Impex nikamwelezea tena shida yangu akampigia simu mtunzi wa kitabu ambaye alitowa jibu ni "mbona mtu mmoja tu ambaye amelalamika" miss Fatema akamwelezea kuwa kuna mteja mwingine pia ameshawahi kulalamika na yeye kama mfanyabiashara wa vitabu anayepromote vitabu vyake anahaki kulalamika kama mteja wake amelalamika akamwomba Cornel akiangalie tena kitabu alafu amtumie majibu ili Fatema ayabandike kwenye vitabu alivyonavyo dukani. NItatoka hapo nikaingia kwenye duka la Call Kwik kuuliza kama wanauza hicho kitabu nikiwa nimekishika mkononi wakasema wanakiuza na vingine ambavyo vimetungwa na mtu huyo huyo. Nikawaonya wasiendelee kuviuza mpaka atakapo rekebisha makosa yaliyo kwenye hicho kitabu nikawapa mifano hai mitatu. 

Huyu mtunzi nimearifiwa ameandika karibu vitabu kumi na vingi ni vya darasa la 4, na vichache vya darasa la 5,6, & 7. Darasa la nne na la saba kuna mitihani ya taifa, sasa kama unavyojua wazazi wengi hujitokeza kwenda kununua vitatu hivi vya mazoezi ili watoto wajiandae vema kwa mitihani iliyombele yako. Sasa kwa mwendo huu kweli mtu ufanyaje? huyu si ndio anyechangia rate of failures za wanafunzi ambazo serikali inahangaika nazo kila siku? 

Nilisikitika sana, nilipofika nyumbani niliamua kumwandikia text msg kabla ya kupersue njia hii ya kuwaonya na kuwaelimisha ndugu wazazi wenzangu yenye mjumbe mfupi huu ufuatao.
"Mr Cornel nimesikitishwa na kitabu chako na majibu uliyonipa wakati najaribu kutatua shida niliyoiona kwenye kitabu chako. jibu la kwamba utarudi DSM baada ya wiki 3 ndio unisaidie haliridhishi kwa sababu watoto wasio na hatia wanaendelea kusoma vitabu na makosa yaliyomo. Tazama hiyo topic ya diseases maswali namba 4,11,21,24,29,34,36,38,39,41,42,43,44,45,46 and 47.kweli ikiwa yote ni typying and  human error how much of the book is true? You are responsible for the number of failures in this country. I urgue you to check your whole book within the next 48hrs and provide me and the nation with right answers kabla sheria haijachukua mkondo wake au kukuharibia soko lako la vitabu. Mimi naitwa Lola Opanga. You need to do something publicly about this." 

Haikuchukuwa muda na ujumbe ulijibiwa kwa maandishi makubwa kama ifuatavyo. "BINADAMU TUNAKOSEA KWANI SI MALAIKA.MAMA NTALIFANYA KAZI KWANI PERFECTION COME AFTER BEING CORRECTED". 

Well, it was a blow on my face as the person did not show any remorse by the tone of the text na ukijumlisha majibu yake yote unabaki kuuliza kweli huyu mtu anawito wa kufundisha au anawaza tumbo lake mwenyewe kwanza? Huyu mtu kweli ni msomi? This is a million dollar question from the way his responses have been from the beginning. Naelewa kuna human and typing errors but not at that rate. 

Naomba mnisaidie kutangaza kwa wazazi wote wenye school going children kuhusu hichi kitabu na huyu mtungaji asiye na roho, na pili kuwaomba wazazi wenzangu muwe mnasoma na kuviangalia hivi vitabu tunavyovinunua tukidhani vitawasaidia watoto wetu kumbe wengine ni wezi watupu!!  Je huyu mtu tumchukulie sheria gani? aadhibiwe vipi kwa kupotosha umma viongozi wetu wa kesho? 

UNHAPPY PARENT!
LOLA 

Below are some of the questions and answers as written on the book and there are the ones which are so obvious that one can tell the answers are wrong. Imagine the ones I do not know or have forgotten, it could even be 20/50 answers were wrong.
Try yourself out.
1. Communicable Diseases can be caused by?
(a) Heredity
(b) Allergies
(c) Chemicals
(d) Organisms 

2. John was suffering from a burning sensation in the stomach. The possible cause is
(a) Flu
(b) Fatigue
(c) diabetes
(d) Excess acid. 

3. Killing of disease causing germs either by boiling, burning, or by the use of disinfectant is called
(a) Vaccination
(b) Isolation
(c) Sterilazation
(d) Sanitation 

4. Which of the following drugs may affect your health if often abused in your presence
(a) Tobacco
(b) Cocaine
(C) Khat
(d) Cobber's glue. 

5. If  a person is suffering from Anemia, he should eat more
(a) Green leafy Vegetables
(b) Meat and Fish
(c) Maize and Beans
(d) milk and Uji 

6. Drinking too much alcohol causes a disease of the liver called
(a) Cataract
(b) Malaria
(c) Cholera
(d) Cirrhosis 

7. Which of these diseases is caused by the mosquito
(a) tuberculosis
(b) influenza
(c) Cholera
(d) Malaria 

8. A child took a meal of Ugali, Biscuits and soda. This meal has far too much
(a) Carbohydrates
(b) Proteins
(c) Vitamins
(d) Fats 

9. Cancer cells are distroyed by
(a) Chemotherapy
(b) Pathogens
(c) VAccines
(d) Viruses