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Editor's Note: This is the third of a five-part series focusing on the opinions and concerns of international students who are unable to vote in the presidential election. The topics will correspond to the "It's Your Vote" series that runs on Tuesdays.
Peter Gitau had one shot to make all his work turn into a ticket to college.
He had been going to school in Kenya every day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. since grade school. His family, friends and community had put together their money just to get him to his senior year of high school, and one test would determine if his education continued or stopped.
After one month of testing from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. everyday, Gitau made the grade and worked his way through college. Nineteen years later, Gitau holds the dean of students position at SIUC.
Gitau was not sure how many seniors took the test, but he said if 30,000 Kenyan high school seniors took it, only 5,000 would be allowed into a national university.
But when Gitau came to America in 1994 to get his master's degree and doctorate, he noticed a startling difference.
"There is not a lot of competition in the American system. All you need is a GED to get into college," Gitau said. "When you have competition, you have to set standards, and that is especially needed in K-12."
With the presidential election weeks away, Gitau said he is confident either nominee would make positive reforms to the education system. He said he was impressed with Sen. Barack Obama's focus on family in education, which Gitau said is key in Kenya.
"I was impressed with Obama's interest in getting the family involved," Gitau said. "Parents should study with their kids and turn off the TV, and I think it's good he wants to hold families accountable."
Gitau said family and community support was the only reason he made it through school. He said his family earned roughly 14,000 Kenyan schillings per month, while it costs 30,000 schillings for one semester of high school.
To help students get through school, Gitau said, communities participate in harambees, which involve everyone chipping in to help the student financially. After the student gains success, Gitau said it is his or her responsibility to give back to the community.
He said working together and holding each other accountable would help prevent disappointing educational experiences he has seen in the past.
"When I was a principle in Kansas, I would see sixth graders that did not know what fourth graders in Kenya would be expected to know," Gitau said. "We all need to take responsibility."
Gitau said providing more funding, setting high standards and developing teachers are keys to improving the nation's education system. He added that he thought both Obama and Sen. John McCain would be dedicated to that mission.
For Nicos Kalathas, affording tuition back home in Greece is not a problem.
Kalathas, a senior from Greece studying history, said tuition and books are free in Greece and the government decides university budgets. While he said the affordability is nice, he prefers the freedom of the American system.
He said seniors in high school have to declare a major, and if they are not accepted into a school with that program, they have to make a new choice. Students cannot choose courses either once they get in a major program, Kalathas said.
The only problem Kalathas said he has with the American system is the high cost of tuition. He said he pays three times the amount of American students.
"I am more concerned with foreign policy and the economic policies, but I think if we want any change at all it has to be Obama," Kalathas said. "I don't know if American policies can change, but he has a better chance of making that happen."
Haoyue Zhang, a doctoral student from China in film analysis, said she agrees with both Gitau and Kalathas.
Zhang, who received her bachelor's and master's degrees in Beijing, said it is a gamble to declare a major in Chinese universities because it is difficult to switch. She also said she likes being able to take classes outside of her major.
She did agree with Gitau that students are more driven in some countries because of the competition that exists. She said students are pushed hard by their parents because it is hard to get a job in China.
Teachers and professors are also held in high regard in China and are considered to be in the upper social class, Zhang said, which motivates students to reach that level.
She said she hoped the changes Obama proposed would create a truly diverse educational experience.
"Right now its like we have this section of Asians and this section of African-Americans and everyone is in little groups," Zhang said. "I think Obama could help the educational system become a more intercultural experience."
Jeff Engelhardt can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 268 or jengel@siu.edu
