Do we learn from mistakes?

One of the notable things that you are likely to observe in any room in the hostels is the series of naked wire connection whose operation is only understood by the room occupants. It’s only in Moi University where the students have control over the kind of life that they stay in the hostels. Cooking using coils and other electric appliances is a common phenomenon in all hostels in Moi University. The electricity is the main source of power for preparing meals. Last year a room in Hostel M was burnt down to ashes because of an electric connection problem in the name of connection cooking beans in the room. That was not the first time that the incidence happened. After that people were sensitized in different forums about electric connection in their rooms. The big question is; do we learn from mistakes?

electric cables connecting cooking coil hanging from ceiling board in hostel

My walk in one of the hostels confirms my doubts that students never learn from mistakes.  A series of electric connection is the first thing that my eyes could see. There is a rule about the illegal cooking and illegal electric connections s, but does this law really apply? When I talked to David, one of the room occupants he said, “The rule against illegal cooking and illegal connection is only applied when a student is in a serious problem in regard to room maintenance.”

When there are blackouts the students blame the university administrators, the university administrators blame the university hostel administration, the university hostel administration blames the students, and it’s all a series of blame game. The big question is who is really to be blamed?