Chapter 228 International Students
May 23, 1870.
"Your Majesty, these are the students with excellent test scores in various regions this year. There are more than 500 students in total. Excluding those whose parents do not support their study abroad, there are only about 200 left. Among these 200 people, most of them are from immigrant families in Germany and the Far East."
"Well, if you don't want to go, you don't have to force me. This is a matter of mutual consent. Studying abroad is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is not necessarily a good thing either. It's just that we in East Africa are too backward, and now we have to learn from the powerful countries in the world."
"But your majesty, that can't be said. The implementation of universal compulsory education in East Africa is a very remarkable thing. Moreover, our Kingdom of East Africa was established not long ago, but we will definitely surpass other countries in the future."
"Don't be arrogant! You need to calm down and do your work well. Being backward is backward, there is no excuse. We must take good care of the international students going to Europe this time, so that they can get the best education in Germany and Austria, and come back to build our East Africa after they finish their studies."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Also, since the families of these children have chosen to trust us, we must do a good job. After all, who dares to put the fate of their children in the hands of others? So we must not let this trust down. The meals for international students must be nutritious, and we must also prepare textbooks, pens and other study tools. Someone should also be found to take care of their daily lives."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
On May 30, the East African Kingdom sent a total of 243 students to Prussia and Austria in the name of the country.
When it comes to education, the East African kingdom is really not good. In addition to the low per capita educational level and high illiteracy rate, the so-called compulsory education in East Africa is like building a high-rise building on flat ground, and now even the foundation has not been laid.
The East African Kingdom and the colonial period lasted a total of more than three years. The earliest batch of elementary school students had not yet graduated, and the first batch of international students could only be selected from these half-grown children.
…
"Markov, Karl next door sent his son back to Europe for education. You said our son's grades are better. Was the original decision a bad one?" Markov's wife asked with a little concern.
"Study! What the hell! When I was in Europe, I didn't see many people going to school! Aren't people living well now?"
What Maklov called Europe actually referred to Tsarist Russia. Maklov, whose original name was Maklovsky, came from a serf family. One can imagine the educational level of the common people in Tsarist Russia.
"Besides, the government is now enforcing compulsory education. I think it's enough to learn how to write and read government notices."
"But……"
"There are not so many buts. You'll be right to listen to me. You're not a noble lord, and studying can't make a living. If the government hadn't enforced compulsory education, I would never let my son go to school. If he had that much time, he could grow vegetables and raise chickens at home, and help out at home during the busy farming season. Doing housework is no better than going to school!" said Markov.
Under the internal competition of Chinese immigrants, Western gardens still lost. They may look beautiful, but they cannot be eaten, especially in this era of material scarcity.
Therefore, the less practical gardens were directly reduced in size and turned into vegetable plots or planted with fruit trees, but the garden was not completely defeated. Things that are pleasing to the eye still have some use. Even the Chinese would learn from the Europeans to plant a few flowers and plants to decorate the yard.
The scene changes to the neighbor's house next door.
"Karl, little Karl is so young, it's too dangerous to let him go abroad alone!"
"What are you afraid of? The government has already said that they will take good care of them. Even if they stay in East Africa, their life may not be better than going to Europe."
"But little Carl is only eleven years old!"
"Hmph, eleven is about right. I started working in the fields when I was ten. Now Karl is an educated man, so it's a good thing for him to go to Europe to receive a higher level of education. Besides, Germany is our root, so it's a good thing for Karl to be exposed to German culture. Although East Africa is good, Germany still has to be considered in terms of culture."
Chinese immigrant families in the same village during the same period of time.
"Hans! Frank is so young. Wouldn't it be bad to let him go to Europe alone?" asked Petra, his Paraguayan wife worriedly.
"What are you afraid of? There's an old saying in my hometown, 'Everything is inferior, only reading is superior.' We didn't have the conditions before, but now we have the opportunity, so of course I want my son to try his luck. How much can he achieve by following us and farming all the time?"
"I don't think there's anything wrong with farming! Going out and making a living is too risky!"
"What do you know? Farming is so tiring! Frank can earn more money than the two of us combined if he writes. He might even become an official. Look at us, we are the village chief. We are the chief only because we have some education."
…
The first batch of international students going to Europe set off from Dar es Salaam. Among them, 108 went to Austria, and the rest went to Prussia and other German states. In the future, they will have the opportunity to study in universities in various countries, and before that they will first study in middle schools in various countries.
Although the students studying in Europe are young, most of them are smart. They were selected from the free-range schools in East Africa with excellent grades and eventually passed the examinations organized by the central government. This shows that in addition to being smart, these people really have a certain interest in learning.
"Remember, don't lose the nameplate. Repeat your home address every day and don't forget the way home."
"When you go to Europe and enter school, you must remember that you are there to study. Don't care what your classmates think. If someone asks you, just say that you are a student from the East African Kingdom and tell them that you are German just the same."
"If you have any difficulties, you can contact your supervisor and teacher. Food, clothing, housing and transportation are all provided free of charge by the government. You are responsible for studying with peace of mind. All..."
On board, staff repeatedly stressed the importance of precautions to the children.
At the same time, in order to leave some thoughts for the parents of these children, the East African Kingdom opened a telegraph line from Europe to East Africa, allowing them to send a telegram to their homes every three months.
East Africa's two telegraph trunk lines can reach directly inland, and then be sent to the families of overseas students by the post office.
The cost of this alone is quite high, which also shows the importance the East African government attaches to it.
The biggest problem that international students may encounter abroad is not studying, but discrimination and habit problems. However, there is no good solution, and the first batch of international students is destined to be the most difficult one.
The first batch of international students chose Germany to integrate into the local social and cultural atmosphere. German is the pass. At the same time, Europe assumes that East Africa is a German country, which cannot be changed. Using a German identity may not work in other parts of Europe, but it is enough in the German region.
(End of this chapter)
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