Fatshimetry: The hidden side of kindergarten graduation ceremonies
The controversial practice of consolidating kindergarten children continues to divide public opinion, despite an explicit ban by educational authorities. This tradition, consisting of organizing grandiose ceremonies to mark the end of the maternal cycle, sparks heated discussions and raises important questions about the education and well-being of children.
At present, it is not uncommon to see processions of cars displaying children dressed in gowns, waving cardboard diplomas on the city’s main arteries. Parents, proud of their offspring, embark on noisy and sometimes even dangerous festivities, despite safety instructions and common sense.
Michel Oto, president of the World Organization for Preschool Education in the Democratic Republic of Congo, underlines the absurdity of this practice which emphasizes appearance to the detriment of real learning. According to him, it is essential to refocus education on more authentic values and to protect children from media overexposure from an early age.
Serge Bondedi Eleyi, fervent defender of responsible education and coordinator of the “Ecole Eza Mombongo te” campaign, calls for collective reflection on the educational challenges of our society. For him, it is urgent to put an end to this abusive practice which risks diverting attention from the real challenges to be met in the field of preschool education.
Ultimately, it is imperative that the competent authorities take concrete measures to regulate and supervise these end of maternal cycle ceremonies. It is time to put the education of young children back at the heart of concerns, by prioritizing healthy educational values and promoting an environment conducive to their intellectual and emotional development.
In short, fatshimetry, a term designating the tendency to favor appearance and spectacle to the detriment of content and quality, must not be part of our children’s education. It is time to restore a fair balance and promote educational practices more in line with the real needs of young children.