What a world!

I was searching and “googling” today to help my old school rebuild and revitalize the school and education system in my small old city. I know and understand that the mission is very narrow and simple one, why because improving education system is a broader topic which needs a strategic planning, finance and vision. But since it is the objective of the Alumni I am only focused in helping the Alumni objectives.

While “googling” I came across to Bill Gates note in his web site which explains about upcoming movie called “Waiting the Superman” the note shows discussion madeby panelist at Oprah Winfrey show with Bill Gates and some others. As learned from the note the film is about the problems in American education system. Does America have a problem in education system is still a wider topic which needs experts discussion but reading the report left me a puzzled feeling and it also remembered me an old saying in Ethiopia (Tigray)  “yezegenem azene..yalzegenem azene” the story is about happened in the old historical place in Axum, Tigray. In Axum there is a tunnel believed to cross a long distance which goes from Axum to now a country called Eritrea.

The tunnel is believed to have been built by the Kings in Axum, Tigray 2000 years ago or so. One time in history troops were passing through the tunnel and it was dark and when the horses and troops walking step  created a strange sound: some thought it is a sand, others from curiosity grab a hand full, some others fill their bags and some other filled as much as they could and loaded their horses.

After miles of travel through the tunnel end up exiting to the open air where they were able to see what they heard and grab from the tunnel and it turns out to be Gold. There was no possibility of come back to the tunnel and those who did not grab anything were sad, and those who grab and loaded still wished they could have loaded more and feeling of sadness filled the army and wise person said “yezegenem azene yalzegenem azene”  

That was how I felt reading about the new film, “Waiting for Superman,” which is expected to show education problems in United States. I was also thinking about the education situations in Adwa, not political issue but the lack of resources, poverty and lack of dedicated and experienced teachers in third world and the brain drain problem created by the powerful nations to name a few.

Who should feel sad? Of course like the tale we all feel sad about the problems but seriously Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gate and American school do you have to feel sad? Please think of third world nations who are dependent on $1 a day to go to school and at least learn something.

What a world!