Charles Dickens Essay -- GCSE English Literature Coursework

Charles heller is the most widely read Victorian writer. The Victorian era, 1837-1901, was an era of immature fond developments that caused many of the writers of the period to take positions on the new developments in society. dickens petitioned that social consciousness would overcome social misery. He often wrote in satire of the society around him, a smug and genius approach to the social injustices that he witnessed, making it widely avail adequate to the general public, educating them of the abuses that plagued the Victorian age. daimon popularity as a writer gave some importance to his written attacks on the abuses of salutes and schools, whose objects were not the education of children or the justice of citizens, solely the fortification of the proprietors.      Charles Dickens was born(p) in Portsmouth, England in 1812 to John and Elizabeth Dickens. (http//www.helsinki.fi/kasv/nokol/dickens.html) He was the second of eight children and he was rais ed on the assumption that he would receive an education if he worked hard. Charles Dickens father, John, on whom Mr. Micawber in David Copperfield is based, fell into deep financial debt and was arrested and imprisoned. Due to his families financial crisis, Dickens went to work at Warrens Blacking Factory labeling bottles, but after his fathers debts were paid, he continued his education at Wellington House Academy from 1824 to 1826. After his education was complete, he became a court reporter for various newspaper sources until he devoted his time to writing.      Dickens first published work appeared in December of 1833 in the Monthly Magazine, followed by nine other works. These writings were collected into two volumes Turner2and published in 1836. The time spent as a reporter made Dickens long-familiar with the middle and lower classes of London and his familiarity is displayed in the two volume set of his early works. These volumes also reveal his humor and concern for the less fortunate classes and his desires for social justice, two popular themes that often dominate his novels.     Dickens wed Catherine Hogarth and they had ten children before their separation in 1858. Regardless of his wedding vows to Catherine, he was always secretly in love with her younger sister Mary, who lived with the Dickens shortly after the honeymoon. Wh... ... It is safe to assume that most of Charles Dickens life shaped the lives of the characters in his novels. Dickens was able to draw from his own experiences and project them into his literary works. Dickens possessed excellent observation, greater than that of any writer at the time and he was able to put his observations into the public eye and cause attention to be drawn to them. He was mostly a political writer, writing about society and how he and his characters fit into it. Charles Dickens is regarded by many to be the greatest writer in the English language. The epitaph on his tombstone in Poets Corner, Westminster Abbey reads "He was a teething ring to the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed and by his death, one of Englands greatest writers is lost to the world". And it is my belief that the inscription on his headstone sums up why Charles Dickens is significant to literature. He causes his readers to think, and to have cathartic experiences through his characters to reach a deeper layer of themselves. He encourages us to stand up against social injustice, to remain optimistic and self sacrificing and to neer forget those less fortunate than ourselves.

Greek :: essays research papers

Othello is a perfect example of Grecian tragedy. It embodies all the essential parts needed to produce a Greek tragedy. A hero of noble birth, his tragic flaw and the reversal and recognition. Fitting a Greek tragedy Othello starts in the middle of an event. Othellos marriage to Desdemona. Iago keeps us informed how and when things are going to happen. Everything is ex quetched through dialogue. Iago tells the audience how things are going to play out in Act II, scene 1, lines 288 through 314, where he says.That Cassio loves her, I do well believetThat she loves him, tis apt and of great credit.The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,And I dare think hell mount to DesdemonaA most dear husband. Now I do love her tooNot out of absolute lust, though peradventureI defend accountant for as great a sin,But partly led to diet my revenge,For that I do suspect the lusty MoorHath leaped into my seat the belief whereofDoth, like a poisonous mineral, g naw my inwardsAnd nothing can or shall content my soulTill I am evened with him, married woman for wifeOr failing so, yet that I put the MoorAt least into a jealousy so strongThat judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,If this poor people trash of Venice, whom I trashFor his quick hunting, stand the putting on,Ill have our Michael Casio on the hip,Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb(For I fear Cassio with my nightcap too),Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward meAnd practicing upon his peace and quietEven to madness. This here, but yet confusedKnaverys plain face is never seen till used.Othellos flaw is jealousy, in the beginning its not even an issue for him. However when Iago began to plant poisonous seeds of doubt in Othellos mind, it doesnt take long for the green eyed monster to rear its ugly head. During the crisis to the extreme killing of Desdemona. However in the date period when this story takes place, it was acceptable and common for husbands to kill their wives if they tarnished their husbands good name. After Othello kills her the falling action began to take place when Othello finds out that he has been betrayed in Act 5, scene II, beginning at line 170. During the falling action you feel pity for Othello even though he murdered Desdemona.

Affordable Health Care: A Review of the 2010 HealthCare Reform Bill Es

After months of substantial and aggressive deliberation around the coupled States, particularly in Washington, the HealthCare Reform of 2010 also known as the Affordable Care Act, was passed with a filibuster favorable to Democrats and signed into office on March 23rd by President Barrack Obama. Though it is intricately detailed, the ideal purposes as promised by those who promoted it are to provide inexpensive and uncomplicated wellness insurance to citizens along with enhanced coerage for those with pre-existing conditions, beneficial prescription drug provisions and changes to tax credits. Essentially, the law incorporates the positive aspects of todays health care system and repairs the areas due for improvements. Over the first ten years of its enforcement in office, this reform is intended to expand coverage to over 32 meg Americans who are currently uninsured and estimates a 130 billion dollar reduction in nationwide deficit. Each provision of the law was proposed to occur over a four year period with some of its ten titles such as the FDAs authorization to approve generic versions of certain drugs ensuing presently while others including the expansion of Medicaid eligibility for the poverty stricken taking effect in early 2014. Many are concerned it is futile and will only get along damage a fragile American economy but to many the introduction of the Affordable Care Act is perfectly timed to mend a broken health system in a struggling society.Conceivably the industry most affected by the passage of the bill is insurance agencies. As of September 23rd 2010, according to the governments website, whitehouse.gov, all insurers are required to pay the entire fees of advised precautionary medical services such as mammogra... ...g News Headlines Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. 23 Mar. 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .2. Preventive Care under the Affordable Care Act HealthCare.gov. Home HealthCare.gov. 23 Se pt. 2010. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. .3. Top 10 Pros & Cons - Health Care Reform - ProCon.org. Health Care Reform ProCon.org. 01 Sept. 2010. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. .4.Health Bill a Milestone -- or a Mistake? - CNN.com. CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News. 22 Mar. 2010. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. .

Ephedra (Ma Huang) :: Botany

Ephedra (Ma Huang) Ephedras species are an evergreen shrub, native to North China and Inner Mongolia. Its yellow/green branching shrub growing to an fair of 20 inches (50cm) with long narrow, sprawling stems and tiny leaves, can be frame in desert or arid regions throughout the world. Its color can be green, gray, or red, depending on the species. The plant has small greenish yellow flowers and tiny nodes (joints) on the stalks (2). Ephedra is propagated from seed or by root division in autumn and demands well drained soil. It usually grows on dry, rocky or sandy slopes, and loves full sun. It matures very slowly and is very challenging to grow (1). global InformationEphedra (common name) comes from the family Ephedraceae. It has several scientific names that depend upon the plants founding location Ephedra major (American), Ephedra trifurca (American), Ephedra nevadensis (American) are found in North America and Ephedra sinica (Chinese- Ma Huang) is found in Asia. Other varieties of Ephedra can be found in Europe, India, and Pakistan. Ephedra was initially found in a Neolithic grave in the Middle East. This evidence may indicate that Ephedra was use as a medicine more(prenominal) than 60,000 year ago. In China, Ephedra was the first herbal remedy to yield an active constituent, in this case ephedrine. The first isolation of ephedrine was in 1887, by a Japanese chemist, N. Nagai (2,5).Folk and Historic TraditionsThe Zen Monks used Ephedra to encourage calm concentration during meditation. According to a legend, a tea containing Ephedra was given over to the bodyguards of Genguis Khan, to keep them from falling asleep on sentry duty. Mormon Tea, one of Ephedras folk names, stems from the use of the tea by Mormons it was used as a heir stimulant for the coffee and black tea the Mormons couldnt drink. In the 1800s Ephedra tea was served in Brothels, claiming to cure gonorrhea and syphilis. Ephedra tea today is not used as a cure it will not cure these STDs (2 ). Medicinal ValuesThe Medicinal use of Ephedra in China dates from approximately 2800B.C. In 1923 the practitioners of Western Medicine began their interest in Ephedra. Soon after, ephedrine became widely used as a nasal decongestant, a central nervous system stimulant, and a treatment for asthma in America. The isolated alkaloid originally obtained from Ephedra species, have been used in a substantial amount of prescription drugs and over-the-counter decongestants and allergic reaction medications (2,4).

The Cultural Invasion of Kenya Essay -- American Culture Traditions Es

The Cultural Invasion of Kenya A screeching yell ripped through the house that Wednesday evening, Ahhhhh, were being invaded. My mother rushed into the living room. I pointed to the flicker television screen. Look, I whispered in disbelief. A few seconds of silence followed. There they were, the words I never thought would appear on our 29 inch Sony screen Sizzlin Hot Country. The appearance of American country music on the Kenyan airwaves was the latest sign that American culture had penetrated the borders of my country. The public exposure of Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton on the local television station is not the only evidence of the rapid spread of American culture in Kenya. unrivaled look at a large portion of its callowness and this cultural invasion will become apparent. Baggy pants, Nike, pop music and malls, symbols of American youth culture can now be associated with the Kenyan teenagers. The Nike phenomenon hit Kenya several years ago. My classmates in primary scho ol were obsessed with the American brand allude that had rocked the ball-shaped shoe industry. Their school desks had the Nike name and logo painted on in every color imaginable. Not being able to afford any(prenominal) of the merchandise, many an(prenominal) resorted to drawing the logo on bags, clothes, situation and other visible possessions. Turning up to a class party with the trademark tick visual aspect on ones footwear simply made one the center of attention. My favorite pair of shoes, I have to admit, were a pair of black Nikes which raised many brows and turned just as many heads. Secondary school had its fair share of examples of the cultural invasion. In most schools in Kenya, students dress in uniforms. For example, in my school it was compulsory to wear a white shirt, gra... ...ols of success. While hip hop and baggy pants may not epitomize American success, Kenyan youth adopt this aspect of American culture perhaps because of the common roots and r acial background the majority share with African Americans. Wearing Nike shoes or sagging ones pants may seem to be meaningless gestures. However, wearing shoes that many popular, rich American sporting icons don or sagging pants like the famous hip hop artists makes one different from the rest. It allows one to adopt an American identity, one defined by success and importance. While some would argue that such a spread of American culture would be beneficial because it would, in a sense, create a global village, I think this cultural invasion creates more harm than good. It would result in the demise of local cultures and languages. And this is certainly not a good thing.

Charitable Works of Muhammad Ali :: Biography

Muhammad Ali is important in many ways. First, his boxing c arer success inspired many mint to follow their dreams to key out greatness. Second, Muhammad Ali and Peter Arnell founded G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) (Our). G.O.A.T. is a food and beverage company that seeks to inspire young adults to eat smarter, to live healthier lives, and to rise above their current status. G.O.A.T. products are expected to come out early next year. Third, Muhammad Ali has raised over fifty million dollars for charities throughout the world. Finally, although Ali retired from the sport in 1981, he showed his love for it by inspiring the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. This act promotes fairness in boxing. I have learned many new things about Muhammad Ali. Previously, I thought he was the greatest boxer of all time, however after my researching, I think he is one of the greatest persons of all time. I never would have guessed that by the time he was 19 years old he had already won six Ken tucky Golden Gloves, two topic Golden Gloves, two National AAU Titles, and an Olympic gold medal (Howard). I never knew that Ali refused to join the army because of his religion. Because of this, his boxing license was cancelled. He was stripped of his title, and was sentenced to five years in prison house for draft evasion. The Supreme Court, however, reversed the draft evasion conviction on June 29, 1971, and Ali continued his boxing career. I did not know that Muhammad Ali was honored as a United Nations messenger of peace and went to Iraq in 1990 to negotiate and successfully get fifteen United States hostages released. Ali excessively received the Medal of Freedom last November.Alis opposition on todays society is enormous because of his success in everything he does. You can visit the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and learn about Ali the poet, Ali the boxer, and Ali the dreamer (Visitor). The Muhammad Ali Center also offers an exhibit where you can le arn about Alis life. The Muhammad Ali Center is a non-profit organization and donations support the vision, preserve the legacy, and promote a global community. Ali has inspired many people through his boxing and through his peace work. He is a role model in whom one can find humor, equality, and good character.

A Bad Day in My Youth

A Bad Day in my Youth When I was 11 years old, I was like all boys of this mount I loved to do what ever my parents forbade me to do. at present, I understand that they had a reason to warn me about many things. One of them was climbing places where children shouldnt be. I couldnt resist climbing trees or buildings just like a monkey. It was a nice, summer day and we lived in Odessa, Ukraine. Ukraine buildings formed courtyards. My friend and I compete in the yard. The yard was small with garages and a big tree in the back.We climbed everywhere we could tree, the roofs of the garages and the attics. We were like adventurers we tried to imagine being Indiana Jones the man from the pic I saw on TV. I was impressed by his adventures. We knew that no one would tell us to stop because our parents were shopping, that day, and we stated with my best friends grandmother. She was a chubby and pleasant woman, 78 or 79 years old, and couldnt always see what we were doing. So we took advanta ge of that old woman who couldnt really spang what we were doing.When we climbed the tree my friend accidentally stepped on my arm and I fell and broke my leg and right hand. At first, I didnt feel anything because of shock, but then, severe pain pierced the broken bones. My friends grandmother called the ambulance. I was scared when, in the hospital, doctor put a cast on my leg and hand. I imagined what my mom was going to say, I was afraid that she would be angry but she wasnt. She said I told you a jillion times you shouldnt play like this and that, one day, you would break neck. You are lucky that its not a broken neck.Please dont play games like this anymore. I understood that mom was right and was trying to warn and protect me the result of my disobedience was a broken finitenesss. I was in a leg cast for 6 months and had to be home-schooled. My arm was in a cast for 3 months, but now its fine. Now I always to do what my parents tell me to do, because I know that they want to do the best for me. They are older they have life experience and they know what way is better. Once, I did what I wanted to do. I will not make this mistake, again.

KFC Swot

KFC SWOT analysis The Kentucky Fried Chicken mission statement The Kentucky Fred Chicken mission statement is To sell fast food in a fast, friendly environment that appeals to pride conscious, health minded consumers vision statement To be the leading integrated food services group so the conception s best tasting starts with the fresh ingredients , the chicken farms &how they raised up lets start analyzing the portofolioes **According to the BCG matrix Stars Cash cowsXtreme meals,individual meals Family meals ,sandwiches & coleslaw Dogs Question marks Nuggets, green salads Desserts , crispy strips, rizo They should analyze the question marks and the dogs & turn them into stars or cash cows may be investing offers. (N. BR&D has to work more on their products) Market segmentation & targetting They classified the market into 3 distinctive markets a. Individual meals targetting teenagers , youth & mid-age groups b.Related obligate KFC MacroKids meals targetting the children by offering them toys & enhancing the play room in their restaurants c. Family meals for families ranging from 4-6 persons Swot analysis Strenghts Customers needed some snacks so , they were the first to introduce whats called a eat BOX which consists of 2 pieces of chicken .. in addition to the cheap price they offer. Weakness Lack of introducing new items or investing in the old board .R&D department has to be more focused .. Opportunities KFC had the opportunity to be reachable world wide in addition to the americana logo which is percieved as a 100% quality offered . KFC has positioned itself as the finger lickin good brand which is characterized by its special taste formula . Threats KFC started to fear competitors like Mc donalds who straight off offer more healthier food which make customers more focused on more healthier food rather than fried chicken.

Fur Trade Solution Essay

The business of fur passel and the harsh practices of this business shoot been global issues for many decades. They suck ruthless ways of killing animals identical mink, foxes, and especially wild yak. It is estimated that the population of the wild yak in Qinghai, China has dropped from one 1 million to 75,000 in the past decade (Fang 38-39). This problem has been vent on for too long and despite the laws and restrictions that most g all overnments have set, still poachers draw and kill animals illegally.There are many possible solutions to this problem that would help, except the most effective way would be to come out donations and funding for non-profit organizations that keep help make a difference. Funding organizations the like the Friends of Nature and The Wild yack Brigade is the best solution because the government has already tried to make changes and the laws are not being enforced. Another reason is because the organizations would use the money efficaciously and there would be no need for a law. The last reason this solution would be better is that these organizations are trying to inhabit the fur vocation by pathting off the demand.Many other countries around the world have the same problem of fur trade. Some of them have passed laws and restrictions to stop this, moreover they have not been very effective. The Coalition to Abolish Fur Trade is trying to help stop this problem in an effort to hold elections for animal rights, but even so that has not had much effect (Stallwood 22-27). In Qinghai, China the population of Wild communicates is drastically going down and even thought their practice of law for has tried to stop this from happening their efforts still have not made a difference (Fang 38-39).In Tibet, their government launched Operation No. 1 which is a $60,000 sweat for anti poaching. On the highway of the Tibetan capital the government set up a dwell and asked if they had any illegal weapons or skins. This campaig n had almost no effect on the poaching in Tibet and the poor efforts of the government angered the people of Tibet. All they did was set up a tent on the road into the bear, said a professor from Provincial University (Fang 38-39). Since 1990 the government of Qinghai has caught only 500 poachers even hough there is most 5-6,000 poachers who hunt all over Qinghai (Jiunnu 9).Even thought the government is making an effort, there is still a lot of illegal poachers that need to be stopped. The government has more money to stop this awful practice but yet nonprofit organizations like the Wild Yak Brigade make more of an effort and a difference. The Wild Yak Brigade is a group of activists who are Tibetan warriors armed with guns and roam an 18,000 square foot radius ready to fend off any poachers who hunt Tibetan antelope (Fang 38-39).They are not funded by the government and they get their money from anyone who will donate to them and use it all on fending off these poachers. They ha ve authorized two jeeps from a Chinese group called Friends of Nature and $10,000 dollars from the United States (Fang 38-39). The group Friends of Natures squad of 17 rangers regularly patrolled Hoh Xil, a nature reserve of more than 100,000 square kilometers in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, home to the antelope. Friends of Nature have also recently launched a campaign to save the Tibetan antelope.Friends of Nature have gained the book of many people including British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He told Friends of Nature that he would be contacting British and European Union environmental authorities about the illegal trade, in the hope that it could be ended. (Jiunnu 9). Their approach is not to chase poachers on the plateau, but to draw international attention to the bloody slaughter of the antelope. These organizations have only money they get from donations, but yet they use every bit of it effectively and help make a difference.These organizations have discovered that even with their efforts and the governments laws the fur trade will not stop until they try and cut off the demand for this fur. Theyve realized that this is a very economic industry so no matter how illegal or cruel it is, poachers will still try and make money. Therefore, if there is no demand and if they can make people realize that they do not need fur then the poachers will be forced to stop. The European Union and the United States have banned trade in seal fur products but yet those seals continue on the verge of extinction (American Society for the Prevention of cruelness to Animals).Factory farming has also been banned in Austria, Croatia and the United Kingdom but in Austria there are still very high place of illegal fur trading (Owen). Friends of Nature and other organizations have realized that these laws do not make a difference, so their efforts have been put towards fish fillet the demand. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is a very popular group that has gotten celebrities to do a campaign Id rather go naked than slang fur.This campaign is trying to help tell people they do not need fur and they show how cruel the fur trade farms are. Organizations like these make a huge difference in peoples opinions and their efforts are on the path to stopping the demand for fur. The practices of poaching and fur trade are major issues that need to be stopped immediately. The poor efforts of the governments have not gone unnoticed and organizations like Friends of Nature and CAFT have stepped up to help this problem.Even though they have no direct or constant funding they work with as much money as they can get and put it all into helping this problem be solved. Since the governments laws are not being enforced, supporting the efforts of these organizations will be more effective. not only would these organizations use this money effectively but they are approaching the problem in a different way by trying to cut off the demand. These methods an d solutions would be the most effective way to stop the awful problem of trading fur.

Health Insurance and Medicare Essay

I. IntroductionThe Patient Protection and Affordable C are Act (PPACA) was signed into law on March 23, 2010 by chairman Barack Obama. Along with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (HCERA), it represents the momentous transformation of the U.S. wellnessyness care system. Its main goal is to decrease the amount of uninsurable citizens as well as to reduce the over any damages of wellness care. It is a vastly complex reform that provide affect many pack in aspects of their health care, embodys, and the country. thither are many opinions round how this reform go out affect the nation, some saying it im division behave us collapse off, others saying we entrust be worse off, and those who do not think it will make a difference. But regardless of these opinions, what the majority does agree on is that these laws may be difficult to understand and that many are not even aware of these changes.There are many problems that the health care manufacture is facing. The be of health care may arguably be the most important factor that people are concerned about. Many think that health care policies and premiums are too expensive. Coupled with the fact that our population is aging, meaning that in that respect will be more elder people with more health problems, health care costs are rapidly growing and take up a huge chunk of the federal budget. There are in addition many loopholes within the current health care system. Individuals who are looking to buy insurance can be denied based on their pre-existing conditions. well-nigh insurance policies even have a conducttime limit on benefits. What all these examples basically sum up is that the people who are in collect of health care the most are those who are also the most unlikely to be insured, or are under insured.In an attempt to embrace these issuings, the PPACA and Reconciliation Act were evinceed. The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act was enacted to amend the PPACA. It is divided into two titles, one addressing the health reform and the other addressing student loan reform. It makes changes to some split of the PPACA. That is why many people commonly refer to the overall health reform as just the PPACA. The most famous change this bringsis that it requires almost all citizens to have health care insurance, or to carry a penalty.Some examples and cases regarding this issue will be discussed later on. The PPACA also considerably expands public insurance as well as funds private insurance coverage. It will close loopholes such as setting life time limits as well as making it illegal to reject coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. In terms of affordability, the PPACA will expand Medicaid to cover wiped out(p)-income families and individuals crosswise the nation. It also aims to cut down and reconstruct Medicare spending, which will be the main focus of this paper.II. The Impacts of the PPACA and HCERA on Medicare and Health Physicians The PPACA is make up of 10 titles. I will be discussing selected provisions in Titles II, cardinal, IV, and V regarding Medicare. These include program modifications and payment to Medicares fee-for-service program, the Medicare alterment, prescription dose programs, Medicares payment process, changes to address, waste, fraud, and abuse, and other miscellaneous Medicare changes. As for the HCERA, the first title has provisions detailing health care and revenues. Subtitle B of Title I involves provisions that change provisions PPACA relevant to those listed supra (Medicare Advantage, fee-for-service, and prescription drug programs). Subtitle D has provisions regarding decreasing fraud, abuse, and waste in Medicare. Subtitle E discuses revenue related provisions such as a provision that changes Medicare tax provision in PPACA.A. Impacts on MedicareAccording to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the provisions in PPACA as amended by the HCERA will reduce direct spending by an e stimated $390 billion (CRS, 2010). The provisions that are predicted to produce the largest savings include the following (1) developing an Independent hire Advisory age to create changes in Medicare payment rates is presumed to save about $16 billion (2) decreasing Medicare payments to hospitals that aid a vast crook of low-income patients, is expected to reduce expenditures by an estimated $22 billion (3) permanent deductions to Medicares fee-for-service payment rates (4) changing the high-income adjustment for Part B premiums, and (5) making upper limit payment rates in Medicare Advantage closer to spending in fee-for-service Medicare. However, it is critical tonote that these are just estimates.Medicare is made up of four parts that are each accountable for paying for various benefits, dependent on different eligibility criteria. low traditional Medicare, Part A and Part B service are usually paid by a fee-for-service basis (services supplied to a patient is reimbursed throu gh a separate payment). Part A supplies coverage for skilful nursing facility (SNF) services, inpatient hospital services, hospice care, and home health care, which are subject to some limitations. Provisions that reduce Part A spending make up a large part of the savings related to this legislation through either payment changes or constraining payment updates. PPACA will transmute Medicares payment updates to Part A hospitals to account for cost savings, which will significantly reduce Medicare spending in the next 10 years. under PPACA (Title III Subtitle A Section 3001), beginning for discharges on October 1, 2012 hospitals will acquire value-based incentive payments from Medicare. The first year of the value based purchasing (VBP) program will aim at collecting data and assessing performance. Starting in 2013, adjustments to hospital payments will be made based on performance by the VBP program. There will also be VBP standards established (i.e. directs of improvement and acc omplishments), as well as a method for assessing how hospitals perform. Hospitals with the highest score will obtain the biggest VBP payments. Those that meet or go beyond the standards are able to receive an increased DRG payment for each discharge within the year. However, to provide for these VBP incentive payments the DRG payments will be trim back by a certain percentage 1.0% in 2013 1.25% in 2014 1.5% in 2015 1.75% in 2016 and 2.0% in 2017.An alternate choice to receive covered benefits would be Medicare Advantage (MA). Private health plans are paid a per person amount to supply all Medicare-covered benefits to those who enroll in the plan under MA. The payments made to MA plans are decided by comparing the maximum amount Medicare will pay for benefits with a plans cost of providing those required benefits. If the plans cost is below the maximum, then it is paidthe cost plus a rebate equal to 75% of the difference to the maximum.But if the plans cost is above the maximum, the n it is paid and must also charge the enrollee the difference between the cost and the maximum. PPACA modifies how the maximum payment is decided. Beginning in 2012, it will accomplish benchmarks (maximum amount Medicare will pay for benefits) calculated as a percentage of per capita FFS Medicare spending. It will also increase benchmarks depending on the woodland of the plan. Those with a high quality rating will get an increase in their benchmark while new plans or those with lesser enrollments may also qualify to get an increase. PPACA will also vary the plan rebates based on quality with new rebates set from 50% to 70%.In regards to changes affecting Medicares prescription drug benefits, the health reform makes a few changes to the Medicare Part D program. PPACA increases the premiums held by higher income enrollees. The income standards are set to be at the same manner and level as that in Part B. Beginning in 2011, those enrolled in Part D will have a 50% discount for drugs during the coverage gap. In extension, HCERA will supply a rebate of $250 to those who enter the gap in 2010. Hopefully this phases out the donut hole (coverage gap) by slowly lessening the cost-sharing and coverage gap for generic and brand name drugs.Medicares finances are operated through two trust funds, the Hospital insurance policy (HI) and the Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) trust fund. The main provider of income to the HI fund, which pays for Medicare Part A, is the payroll taxes paid by employers and employees. Medicare Part B and D are funded by general revenues and periodic premiums. In addition to all the previous provisions addressing Medicares financial issues, there is another precautionary step cosmos taken. The PPACA has a provision to establish an Independent Payment Advisory Board with the goal of decreasing Medicare spending.B. Impacts on PhysiciansThe PPACA and HCERA make various changes to the Medicare program, which in turn affects physicians and ho w they practice. Some of these provisions have crystalise consequences, such as immediately changing physician reimbursement, while others have indirect influences on how physicians may practice in thefuture by modifying the incentives to improve the delivery and quality of care.PPACA broadens the Medicare Physician Quality and Reporting Initiative (PQRI) incentive payments though 2014 and administers a penalty for those who fail to report quality measures starting in 2015. It also supplies for a further bonus to physicians who meet the requirements of an assessment program, such as the Maintenance of Certification Program, while penalizes the physicians who fail to meet those standards in the future. Under Section 3002 of Title III, Medicare claims data will be used to provide reports to physicians that measure resources used to provide care for Medicare beneficiaries.Under Section 3007 of Title III, the secretary of HHS is obliged to create and administer a separate payment modi fier to the Medicare physician fee schedule. This payment should be based on the relative cost and quality of the care provided by physicians. The quality of care should be assessed based on risk-adjusted measure of quality determined by the secretarial assistant. Costs are also assessed based on measures determined by the Secretary. Risk factors such as ethnicity, demographic, socioeconomic characteristics, and health status should be taken into account. By January 1, 2012 these explicit measures of cost and quality, along with implementation dates of the adjusted payments should be published.III. Regulations & ImplementationWith such significant changes and provisions beingness made, there should be a way to keep spark advance of how each is being regulated and implemented. I will discuss the regulations, time limits, and transactionive dates on how each are being done so by year.The first changes of 2010 start with Medicare provider rates. This includes reductions in the annu al market basket updates for hospital services. Currently, there have been productivity adjustments added to market basket update in 2012. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued these updates for varying provider types starting in August 2010. Theimplementation of the Medicare Beneficiary drug rebate, which supplies a $250 rebate to those in the Part D coverage gap, started January 1, 2010. In May 2010, the CMS published a brochure containing information about the coverage gap in Medicare Part D. As of March 22, 2011, about 3.8 million people have received the $250 rebate (HHS, 2011). As for closing the Medicare drug coverage gap, on December 17, 2010 CMS sent a letter to pharmaceutical companies addressing guidelines to the Medicare Coverage Gap Discount Program. This program became effective on January 1, 2011.Moving onto provisions implemented in 2011, Medicare payments for primary care will provide a 10% bonus payment for services. It will also provide the same bonus to general surgeons working in areas with a shortage of health professionals. This is being implemented starting in January 1, 2011 through December 2015. As for the MA payment changes, they will restructure payment to private plans and prohibit higher cost-sharing requirements. This has been in effect since January 1, 2011. The CMS issued a notice to MA plans in April 2010 addressing the freeze in 2011 payment rates at 2010 levels. A Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board made up of 15 individuals to arrange proposals and recommendations to decrease the per capita rate of growth in spending if it exceeds targeted rates was planned to be established. On October 1, 2011, funding was made available and the first proposals are due January 15, 2014.In 2012, the second part of the MA plan payments, which reduce rebates paid and provide bonuses to high quality plans, went into effect on January 1, 2012. On February 28, 2012 the CMS sent out a letter to MA plans addres sing the payment rates for 2012. Fraud and abuse prevention was also implemented on January 1, 2012. It establishes procedures for screening and reporting those who participate in Medicare. On March 23, 2011 CMS issued a notice addressing the fee that providers would have to pay to fund the screenings. Later on in the year, on October 1, 2012 Medicare value based purchasing was put into effect. This creates a program to pay hospitals based on their quality of performance.This coming year in 2013, there will be a few provisions to come into effectstarting off the new year. On January 1, 2013 the Medicare tax increase (increases the Medicare Part A tax rate on wages by 0.9% on incomes of $200,000), Medicare bundle payment pilot program (program to create and assess payments for certain services), and the latter part of the prescription drug coverage gap (reducing coinsurance) will be put into effect.As for 2014, the last of the Medicare provisions will be implemented. The Medicare Adv antage plan personnel casualty ratios are mandated to be no less than 85% this will begin at the start of the year on January 1, 2014. The second implementation for that year will be Medicare payments for hospital-acquired infections it will decrease payments to those hospitals for their hospital-aquired conditions by 1% and this process will continue onto 2015.IV. Cases Challenging PPACAWhen the PPACA and HCERA were signed into law, many people opposed and sued claiming that the reform was unconstitutional for a number of reasons. The most controversial was the mandate that require most citizens to obtain health insurance coverage, and if failing to do so would have to pay a penalty in the form of an individual tax. Another debated provision was the expansion of the Medicaid program to cover even more individuals, such as those with low income. All of these separate cases were then merged into a single case, The National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, 567 U.S. (20 12).When ruled, it was a momentous Supreme Court decision in which the Court maintained Congresss berth to enact the provisions of the Affordable Care Act and the Reconciliation Act. In December 2011, it was inform that there would be a 6 hour oral argumentation heard by the Court over a time span of lead days beginning on March 26, 2012 and ending on March 28, 2012 discussing varying debatable topics of these provisions. By a vote of 5 to 4, the Court maintained the Individual Mandate aspect of the PPACA as a binding exercise of Congresss authority to lay and collect taxes. The critical characterization of this financial penalty as a tax is what passed the mandate as constitutional.Preceding this landmark case there were many previous hearings held, allhaving similar inappropriate opinions. The Eleventh Circuit was also dealing with arguments in relative cases challenging PPACA. While it was assumed that the Fourth Circuit, which had heard oral arguments before the Eleventh Ci rcuit, would issue a decision on PPACA first, the Eleventh Circuit was actually the second to issue its opinion, on August 12, 2011. In Florida ex rel. Bondi v. U.S. Department of Health & human beings Services (2011) the plaintiffs of the case were two private individuals, the National Federation of Independent Business, and 26 individual states.The Eleventh Circuit then published a 300-plus knave opinion finding by a 21 majority that the Individual Mandate (requiring health insurance coverage) is unconstitutional, and thus created a split of authority between the two Circuits. The Eleventh Circuit heard this appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, which saw the Individual Mandate to be an unconstitutional exercise of Congresss authority. The district court also found that the Individual Mandate was not applicable to the rest of the PPACA, meaning that the unhurt act was invalid. The plaintiffs in the district court case also debated th at the PPACAs expansion of Medicaid was unconstitutional, but the district court granted the governance judgment on that issue and the Eleventh Circuit agreed to that courts decision.These two cases show how divided opinions can be and how difficult it was and is to pass a health reform law. Opinions are still divided, concerning many aspects such as the Medicaid expansion, the Commerce Clause, and the Necessary and Proper Clause. On the issue of Medicaid expansion, no one, single opinion had the erect of the majority of the Justices. Also, on the issue of if the Individual Mandate was within the authority of Congress under the Commerce Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause, again there was no single opinion that was supported by the majority of the Court. Despite all these controversies, and even though the act has passed, there are still those who are continuing to pursue litigation in order to repeal and defeat the PPACA.V. ConclusionMedicare spending has been increasing m uch more rapidly compared to the general economy, and this unquestionably raises concerns about Medicareslong-term sustainability. The provisions in the Affordable Care Act and the Reconciliation Act were established to decrease Medicare program costs by about $390 billion over the following 10 years through modifications in payments to various providers, by leveling payment rates between fee-for-service Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and by boosting efficiencies of how health services are delivered and paid for. Overall, the PPACA and HCERA are momentous pieces of legislation that will restructure the future of the U.S. health care system. It is still unclear of how well these provisions have been implemented, with some still having yet to be so.The main concern is probably how well costs will be contained or reduced. With all of these new taxes, hopefully the reform will actually reduce the federal deficit over the next ten years that these provisions are being implemented. The re is still much work to be done within the next few years, to see how this reform works out. Many people are glad that it has passed and support this reform as well as encourage it to be expanded, while others oppose the reform arguing that it creates too much government involvement in the issue.But since it has passed and is enacted in the present, people should make use of what is being provided. Some are not even aware of the changes in the health care industry and are oblivious to how they are being affected. That is why it is important to stay informed and make decisions, after all this is what directly affects your future.ReferencesCRS analysis of CBO (March 20, 2010). Estimates of the effects of PPACA and the Reconciliation Act combined. Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved October 31, 2012 from http//www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/113xx/doc11379/AmendReconProp.pdf Barrett, Paul M. (June 28, 2012). Supreme Court Supports Obamacare, Bolsters Obama. Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved N ovember 3, 2012 from http//www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-28/supreme-court-supports-obamacare-and-bolsters-obama Congressional Budget Office (March 2009). An Analysis of Health Insurance Premiums Under the Patient Protection andAffordable Care Act. Letter to the Honorable Evan Bayh. Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC. Retrieved November 3, 2012 from http//www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=10781. Kaizer, J. (2010). Implementation Timeline. Health Reform Source. Retrieved November 5, 2012 from http//healthreform.kff.org/timeline.aspx Hilgers, David W. (February 2012) Physicians post-PPACA not going let out at the healthcare buffet. The Health Lawyer, Vol. 24. Retrieved November 4, 2012 from http//www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publishing/health_lawyer/health_mo_premium_hl_healthlawyer_v24_2403 Pozgar, George D. (2009). Legal essentials of health care administration. Missisauga, Ontario Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Michael Brown. National Federation of Independent Busin ess v. Sebelius, Secretary of Health & Human Services567 U.S. (2012) No. 11-393 Argued March 26-28, 2012 Decided June 28, 2012 Florida ex rel. Bondi v. U.S. Department of Health a& Human Services, 780 F.Supp. 2d. 1256 (N.D. Fla. 2011), order clarified by 780 F.Supp. 2d. 1307. (N.D. Fla. 2011).

Development of Education in Kenya

1. 0 INTRODUCTION2 1. 1 Definition of terms3 1. 2 Background information4 1. 2. 1 Pre-compound reproduction4 1. 2. 2 Post compound know takege in Kenya (Neocolonialism)4 1. 3 National Aims/Goals of fostering in Kenya6 1. 4 Structure of discipline6 1. 4. 1 archaean puerility Development and fostering7 1. 4. 2 Primary raising8 1. 4. 3 twinklingary direction9 1. 4. 4 Teacher culture9 1. 4. 5 tertiary educateing10 1. 4. 6 University program line11 1. 5 cheek system11 1. 5. 1 Permanent secretary11 1. 5. 2 pay and boldness Division12 1. 5. 3 managing directorate of facts of life12 . 5. 4 Field Service facts of life Officers13 2. 0 CHALLENGES FACING THE FORMAL EDUCATION IN KENYA14 2. 1 Recommendations to the Ch each(prenominal)enge of tuition in Kenya17 3. 0 Conclusion18 3. 1 References. 19 1. 0 INTRODUCTION The planning of fosterage and training to all Kenyans is fundamental to the success of the presidencys overall development strategy. First, the long term object ive of the disposal is to suffer every Kenyan with basic case bringing up and training, including 2 years of pre-primary, 8 years of primary and 4 years of lower-ranking/technical education. information alike aims at enhancing the ability of Kenyans to preserve and utilize the environment for productive gain and sustainable livelihoods. Second, development of quality human resource is central to the attainment of national goals for industrial development. Third, the acknowledgment of universal access to basic education and training ensures equitable access to education and training for all children, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.Fourth, education is look atment for the development and protection of democratic entrys and human rights. Hence, this paper aims at describing the development of bollock education in Kenya. It will first of all explore perfunctory education in pre-colonial era. It will then show how several(predicate) commissions curb contribut ed to the development of formal education in post-colonial era. The paper will also waste light on the national goals of education, the structure of education and pay system in each level of education through government initiatives.Moreover, it will visualize into the administration of the education system and last discuss the various challenges face up the education sector and their tributes. 1. 1 Definition of terms Education According to Sifuna and Otiende (1992) education is the process of acquiring worthwhile accumulated knowlight-emitting diodege, skills attitudes and values from wholeness generation to the next. From this point of view therefore, education is meant to teach a student how to live his sustenance by developing his mind and equipping him to deal with reality.Formal as defined by Webster Dictionary is relating to or involving the outward form, structure, relationships, or arrangement of elements quite an than content. It may also mean following or accor ding with established form, custom or rule. Formal education A formal education program is the process of training and developing people in knowledge, skills, mind and character in a structured and certified program. The features of formal education implicate Classrooms, teachers, students, content and others (Sifuna and Otiende, 1992). 1. 2 Background information 1. . 1 Pre-colonial education Sifuna, Chege and Oanda (2006) observe that historical records reveal that Kenyans had access to education as far back as Johann Ludwing Krapf and Johannes Rebman. Formal education was introduced basically to crowd evangelism but later on it become an instrument for production of skilled labour for the Europeans farms and clerical staff for colonial administration. The missionaries determined the type of education African had to flummox they built inculcates, managed them determined the curriculum and influenced education policies.It all started in 1846 with the church missionary monasti c order (CMS) establishing a school at Rabai the Coast province and others across Kenya such as Friend school Kaimosi (1903), Maseno school (1906), Jamhuri uplifted school (1906), Europeans girls, Kenya high school (1908), Mangu high school (1925) and others. During that time education in Africa, Kenyan included was stratified on racial lines in matters of system structure, curricula and resources. For example, the Europeans system had an pper hand resource, its curriculum was establish on British traditions, Arabs and Asians system came second. Africans prep bed youths to work on Europeans farms. 1. 2. 2 Post colonial education in Kenya (Neocolonialism) Sifuna and Otiende (1992) noted that racial segregation was abolished in 1960 as the country moved closer to independence. With the attainment of independence on 12th December, 1963- a ministry of education was created. The school system in Kenya was brought under a localized quantity curriculum and public examinations.Since indep endence, the Government has addressed challenges facing the education sector through Commissions, Committees and Taskforces. The first Commission, after independence, came up with the Report of the Kenya Education Commission (The Ominde Report, 1964) that sought to reform the education system inherited from the colonial government to take it more responsive to the necessitate of independent Kenya. The Commission proposed an education system that would foster national unity and the creation of sufficient human capital for national development.Sessional Paper No 10 of 1965 on African socialism and its Application to Planning in Kenya formally follow the Ominde Report as a basis for post-independence educational development. The Report of the National Committee on educational Objectives and Policies (The Gachathi Report, 1976), focused on redefining Kenyas educational policies and objectives, big consideration to national unity, and economic, social and cultural aspirations of the people of Kenya.It imported in Government support for Harambee schools and also led to establishment of the National Centre for Early Childhood Education (NACECE) at the Kenya Institute of Education (KIE). The Report of the professorshipial running(a)(a) Party on the Second University in Kenya (The Mackay Report, 1981) led to the removal of the advanced (A) level of secondary education, and the expansion of other post-secondary training institutions.In addition to the establishment of Moi University, it also recommended the establishment of the 844 system of education and the Commission for higher(prenominal)(prenominal) Education (CHE). It diversified the school curriculum with emphases on pre-vocational and technical skills (Republic of Kenya, 1981). The Report of the Presidential Working Party on Education and Manpower training (1988) focused on improving education financing, quality and relevance.This Manpower pedagogy for the Next Decade and beyond (The Kamunge Report) wa s at a time when the Government scheme for the purvey of instructional materials through the National Textbook Scheme was inefficient and therefore adversely unnatural the quality of teaching and learn. From the recommendations of the Working Party in 1988, the Government produced Sessional Paper No 6 on Education and Training for the Next Decade and Beyond. This led to the policy of cost sharing between government, parents and communities.The Commission of Inquiry into the Education System of Kenya (The Koech Report, 2000) was mandated to recommend ways and means of enabling the education system to still national unity, mutual social responsibility, accelerated industrial and technological development, life-long encyclopaedism, and adaptation in response to changing circumstances. The Koech Report recommended Totally Integrated Quality Education and Training (TIQET). While the Government did not adopt the Report collectable to the cost implications close to recommendations, such as curriculum rationalization have been adopted and implemented.Recent policy initiatives have focused on the attainment of education for all (EFA) and, in particular, Universal Primary Education (UPE). The key concerns are access, retention, equity, quality and relevance, and internal and external efficiencies within the education system. The effectiveness of the sure 8-4-4 structure and system of education has also come under increasing scrutiny in light of the decline in enrolment and retention particularly at the primary and secondary school levels in the die decade.The Government is committed to the provision of quality education and training as a human right for all Kenyans in accordance with the Kenyan law and the international conventions, such as the EFA goal, and is developing strategies for moving the country towards the attainment of this goal. The execution of instrument of Free Primary Education (FPE) is critical to the attainment of UPE as a key milestone towa rds the realization of the EFA goal (htt//www. virtualcampuses. eu/index. php/Kenya). 1. National Aims/Goals of Education in Kenya Aseey and Ayot (20096) state that in Kenya the fundamental goal of education is to prepare and equip the youth to be talented and useful citizens of the society. From this fundamental needs arise more aims of education. In Kenya, there are seven specific goals of education, namely national unity, national development, exclusive development and social fulfillment, social equality, respect and development of cultural heritage and international consciousness. 1. Structure of education Kenyas education system is a three to cardinal tier system. In 1985 Kenya introduced the current 8-4-4 system ? Primary education 8 years age 6-13 (free and compulsory) ? Secondary education 4 years age 14-18(subsidized for students in Day Schools and the Government provides fees guidelines to all public schools) ? Higher education 4 years age 19-21 (subsidized for those se lected through the Universities Joint Admission gameboard) 1. 4. 1 Early Childhood Development and EducationThe provision of ECDE as observed by republic of Kenya (1999) involves households, community and Government efforts in the integrated development of children from the time of conception. The structure of ECDE provision is divided into that for 0-3 year-old children and for 4-5 year-old children. For this sub-sector, the MOES policy is to focus on 4-5 year-old children with a view to providing a holistic and integrated programme that bear upons the childs cognitive, social, moral, spiritual, emotional and physical needs.The Government is already implementing measures that seek to improve the performance of this sub-sector. These include establishing guidelines and standards for the management, supervision and curriculum development for ECDE establishment of NACECE and District Centres for Early Childhood Education (DICECE) for purposes of in-servicing teachers and training of trainers mobilizing communities and parents through awareness creation, and providing community support grants to support marginalized/vulnerable communities in collaboration with other partners.Other measures, which are be implemented to enhance quality education at this level, include implementing a 2-year in-service training programme for ECDE teachers mounting a 9-month training of trainers course developing guidelines and syllabuses for ECDE programmes enhancing the capacity of supervisors and inspectors to ensure quality of ECDE programmes and equipping NACECE and DICECEs to meet the needs of the programmes.Despite the above measures, access, equity and quality in this sub-sector remain constrained by various factors that include modified teaching and learning materials, unequal to(predicate) ECDE centres in able community participation lack of a clear policy on transition from pre-primary to primary school in qualified nutrition and health operate lack of enough trained teachers low and irregular salaries for ECDE teachers and lack of clear entry age guidelines (htt//www. virtualcampuses. eu/index. php/Kenya). 0 1. 4. 1. 1 Financing of pre- primary educationThe pre-primary education is basically controlled by private institution, religion and organization. Its finance purely depend on the parents previously but currently the government has allocated some money to finance this level of education. 1. 4. 2 Primary education According to Ministry of Education (1987), this is the first phase of the national 8. 4. 4 system of education. The course outlive for eight years. Its aim is to ensure that functional and practical education that will meet the needs of the majority of children who terminate their formal education at standard eight.Financing of primary education in Kenya is universal, free and compulsory to all Kenyan citizens. The government through constituency development fund has constructed physical facilities, purchased teaching and learning materials and employing teachers. The primary school curriculum is uniform throughout the country. It is nationally developed at the Kenya institute of education by the subject experts. The government of Kenya recognizes that provision of universal primary education as an important milestone to economic and social development.In particular it has been established that by providing primary education to women, a society is able to hasten its development. The government, since January 2003 has managed to implement free primary school education programme that has seen a tremendous increase in the number of children attending school. The Government has also increased its budgetary allocation to education as well as introducing a Constituency Bursary Fund for efficient facilitation of education at the grassroots level.The implementation of the Universal Free Primary Education, as part of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), has earned Kenya the prestigious Education Award 1. 4. 2. 1 C ertification Two certificates are awarded to students in primary school level these are The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education awarded by the Kenya National examination council and the Kenya Primary Living Certificate issued with the authority of the Director of Education. 1. 4. 3 Secondary educationThe secondary education in Kenya comprises of 4 years of education in which an exam referred to as Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCES) is done to finish this level of education. It has three compulsory subjects English, Kiswahili and Mathematics, a science section where a student chooses all or two sciences among Chemistry, Physics and Biology. The last section of the structure comprises humanities in which a student must pick one subject and two at maximum, these subjects are Geography, History, C. R. E and sociable Ethics.Lastly there is a category of subjects known as applied sciences and they are offered by limited school and a student is allowed to pick one subject i n this category, they include Technical Drawing and Design, Woodwork, Metalwork, Art and Design, Electricity, Aviation and Power Mechanics. Students who obtain a grade of C+ and above are entitled for admission at Kenyan public Universities but due to limited positions the grade is shifted annually and can go as high as B+. There are two categories of secondary schools in Kenya, namely public and private schools (Bogonko,1992). 1. . 3. 1 Financing of secondary school education The public secondary schools are funded by the Government or communities and are managed through a Board of Governors and Parent Teacher Associations. Subsidized for students in Day Schools and the Government provide fees guidelines to all public schools. The private schools, on the other hand, are established and managed by private individuals or organizations and the parents pay full fees for their children. 1. 4. 4 Teacher Education There arefive teacher education programmes in Kenya as observed by Republi c of Kenya (1999).These are The Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teacher education programme in which teachers are trained through in-service courses in District Centres for Early Childhood Education (DICECEs). The National Centre for Early Childhood Education (NACECE) develops the curriculum, trains trainers and supervisors, and conducts monitoring and evaluation. The Secondary teacher education which is provided at the diploma and degree levels in diploma teacher training colleges and universities respectively.The Technical teacher education is offered at the Kenya Technical Teachers College in Nairobi which trains diploma level teachers for secondary schools, technical training institutes, primary teachers colleges, institutes of technology and vocational polytechnics. The Special needs education teacher education is provided to professionally qualified practicing teachers through atwo-year diploma programme at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) and f inally the Primary teacher education (PTE) which is provided in 18 certificate level colleges through a two-year, residential programme.The entry criteria for primary teacher education require a candidate to have acquired a minimum grade of C (plain) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). In addition, one must have obtained a minimum grade of D in Mathematics and C- in English. For the entry of a diploma programme for secondary teacher education requires a candidate to have acquired a minimum grade of C (plain) in KCSE and minimum grade of C in the two teaching subjects of his/her choice and a minimum grade of C+ for a degree course.To qualify for the award of the Primary Teacher Education Certificate, a student must pass all the practical teaching and obtain a pass in all eight subjects. The final grade distinction, credit, pass, fail is determined by passes in the 6 best performed subjects. 1. 4. 5 Tertiary Education These are middle colleges that offer certifi cates, diplomas and some undergraduate degrees. Their curriculum is supervised by the ministry of higher education.The source of finance is self sponsored and in some cases by the government through higher education loan board or subsidence free to the public institution (Ministry of Education, 1987). 1. 4. 6 University education In Kenya, they are both Public universities undercover universities. The Public universities offer certificates, diplomas, degrees, masters and Ph. D. They are sponsored by the government by salaried salaries to the staffs including lecturers, provision physical facilities.In addition, students who are selected by the government were given some financial support through Joint Admission board (J. A. B). The Private universities on the other hand, are self-sponsored and only support students to get some financial support from the government through Higher Education Loan Board (HELB). 1. 5 Administration system Getao (199657) explains that The Kenya educatio n system is centralized in the sense that administration, curriculum development and the formulation of policies are centralized. In Kenya, parliament makes the laws pertaining to education.Occasionally, the President makes decrees related to education. He appoints the ministers who preside over the interpretation and implementation of the educational policies. The system of education in Kenya is administered from two separate ministries namely the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education each headed by the Minister and an assistant Minister . The Ministry of education is responsible for formal education from pre-primary education, fussy education, primary education, secondary education and Teachers education.The Ministry of higher education is responsible for higher education which include Technical and vocational training colleges, Tertiary colleges and universities. The administration departed of ministry of education is broadly based on functional units. Thes e are 1. 5. 1 Permanent secretary Heshe is the head of departments in the ministry. Heshe is the overall head of the ministry. Heshe is the accounting officers. He she is the formulator and implementer of government policies on education. 1. 5. 2 Finance and administration DivisionThis is the wing of the administrative department of the ministry responsible for day to day administrative and financial management affairs of the ministry. It is headed by the Deputy depository (Finance and Administration) who is responsible to the permanent Secretary and takes action on all policy matters and cabinet decisions that involve the Ministry and prepares all Cabinet Memoranda for the Ministry. 1. 5. 3 Directorate of Education According to Ministry of Education (1987) the Directorate of Education is the chief professional officer of the ministry.Heshe is responsible for both the ministry and the permanent secretary on all professional matters to do with Education. The Functions of the Dir ectorate of Education are to Formulate policies give directions and management of professional functions relating to education. He/she is to deal with welfare of the students, develop curricula for the ministry, initiate training programme, Inspect schools and teachers, promote teachers, give scholarship and award to students, give grants and grant-in-aids to school as well as to produce and supply educational materials and equipments.The Directorate has three divisions namely The Administration and Management of Programmes (AMP), The Education Policies and Programmes (EPP) and The Quality Assurance Officers (QAO). The Administration and Management of Programmes are in charge of registering the schools and institutions, following up audited reports, giving grants and grant-in- aid to schools, inspecting reports, Discipline of students, giving annual report and admission and transfer of students.The Education Policies and Programmes is in charge of the formulation of policies for the Pre-primary Education, Secondary Education, Technical Education, Special Education, Teacher Education, The Kenya Institute of Education (KIE), University Education and other forms of Tertiary Education, 8-4-4 System of Education and Scholarship Awards to Overseas Universities. The Quality Assurance Officers department is a section in the Ministry of Education that deals largely with the attention and improvement of standards of education in Kenyans school and colleges.It inspects the methods of teaching and the teaching and learning materials or resources. 1. 5. 4 Field Service Education Officers This is another part of administration in education in provincial level, District level, Division and village or vocational levels. They represent the government in their level of operations. They are i) bucolic Director Education Officers (P. D. E O. ) ii) District Education Officers (D. E. O. ) iii) Education Officers (E. O) Other administration departments in the ministry of education include i) Board of Governors (B.O. G) who represent the government in the school level. ii) Parent Teachers Association (P. T. A) that links the school and the community. iii) Kenya National Examination council. This is be of administration is used to supervise examinations and offer certificate in different levels of education in Kenya such as primary level, secondary level and teacher education. iv) Kenya Institute of Education (KIE). This body of administration is used in produce the syllabus and drawing of curriculum in education system of Kenya. v) Teacher Service Commission (T.S. C. ) This is the body that recruits and employs teachers. It also sucks teachers who are not behaving well. Other education bodies that are used in administration include Jomo Kenyatta foundation, Kenya Education Staff Institute (K. E. S. I), Commission for Higher Education (CHE), Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB), Public Universities review article Board which lists all sessional papers, parliament acts such as the Education Act, draft legislation, information on Kenya universities and tertiary institutions, reports, news Kenya National Examination Council(KNEC) which is the national body responsible for overseeing national examination in Kenya for primary and secondary education amongst others. 2. 0 CHALLENGES FACING THE FORMAL EDUCATION IN KENYA Although the Kenyan Government is put effort in improving education in Kenya, there still many challenges that are facing the sector which need to be addressed. These Most of these challenges have been observed by Sifuna, Chege and Oanda (2006) in most of the African countries. They are as follows There is inadequate financing to the education sector.The education sector requires sufficient financial support for it to undertake its duties such as curriculum development education research and the implementation of educational policies, teacher payment of salaries and so on. The Kenya education sector receives its funding mainly fro m the Kenyan government through the Ministry of Finance and also from international donors. However, there is still minimal funding which may be attributed to the misappropriation of specie as well as poor funding of the education sector by its primary source the Kenyan government.Consequently, the poor funding will result in the unsatisfactory enforcement of the education sectors mandate. There may be poor curriculum development and education research as well as the unseemly implementation of educational policies. The Shortage of trained teachers is another challenge in education sector. The education sector struggles to meet the demand of teacher to the sector due to the shortage of teachers. This may be attributed to trained teachers attrition in preference to other fields which offer better salaries and remuneration packages as opposed to what is offered by the teaching profession.There is also the Brain drain where trained teachers go to teach in other countries where they b elieve there are better working conditions in terms of benefits salaries and remuneration packages as opposed to those offered here in Kenya. An acute shortage of trained teachers to the education sector results in the employment of raging teachers to meet the supply deficit. The introduction of the free primary education and free secondary education initiatives in 2003 by the Narc Government in credit line of education for all saw a sharp increase of student enrollments.At the time the government had not put in place adequate facilities and educational resources subsequently, there arose a strain on the already limited available resources for instance the overcrowding in schools where classroom were packed beyond capacity. Several recommendation were made afterwards which saw the subsidization of education in the place of free education which requires the government to pay for part of resources required while the guardians and parents in the programme meet the remaining expenses. Some parents were still unable to meet subsidized cost of educating their children which in turn saw the dropping out of school for children who lack school fees (http//www. /par. or. ke/documents/policy). In marginalized areas such as the nomadic communities in Northern Kenya student enrollment and classroom attendance is poor as a result of the influence by the nomadic culture which requires nomadic families to move with their livestock from place to place in search of food water. Seeing that the children cannot be left behind, they are left with no choice but discontinue the learning.Gender disparity as observed by Kibera and Kimokoti (1997) poses a challenge to formal education in Kenya in terms of the ratio of boys to girls enrolled to educational institution. In some communities, especially in rural areas where traditions are still followed, boys are broadly enrolled for an education while girls are left at home to take of the home and family. There is the belief in such comm unities, that educated girl would be of more benefit to her matrimonial home hence her paternal home would not be able to reap the benefits of having her educated.There are also limited alternative education programmes such as teenage mother programmes to cater for the education of those girls who drop out of school due to early pregnancies. Most of these girls have to drop out of school for some time until the time they have their babies and even then they would have to cohere at home take armorial bearing of their babies, limiting their chances to go back to school and finish their education. Enrollment into self-aggrandizing education programmes is discouraging and a challenge to the education system.Many illiterate and semi-illiterate adult fears the stigma they may receive from their family, friends and society and this may beep from enrolling into such programs. Moreover, there are a few adult education programmes and institutions which is a massive challenge to those adul ts seeking to receive such an education. Special education to cater for those students with intellectual and or physical disabilities is minimal with most guardiansparents choosing let their children with such disabilities to stay at home rather than enroll them in special schools thereby denying them an education all together.Moreover, such institutions receive minimal funding especially from the government which makes them unable to successfully deliver. Nevertheless, there are Social emergent issues which are effecting the education directly or indirectly. HIVAIDS Pandemic which both affects and affects both the teachers and students is one of the current issues in education sector. Teachers who are infected with the pandemic may be unable to or find it difficult to attend lessons due to acute symptoms of the illness as well as the side effects of its treatment.Moreover, they may be unable to face the classroom due to the stigma associated with being HIV positive. remainder of teacher from HIVAIDS is also a challenge to formal education since it contributes to teacher shortage due to the loss of trained manpower to the education sector. As for the students who are infected they may have to drop out of school due to the stigma of being HIV positive as well as being of poor health to attend school. Moreover, students who are affected have to drop out of school to take care of their infected relatives. Drugs and alcohol abuse by teachers and students is another challenge.Teachers who abuse alcohol and or drugs perform poorly as teachers since they are unable to teach appropriately or disrupt the whole learning process. Moreover, students who abuse drugs and alcohol tend to be undisciplined there by contributing to arise of conflicts in the school. Such students eventually drop out of school or are kicked out all together. Students indiscipline such as strikes and riots which disrupt the learning process while causing damage to school educational resources li ke classrooms and dormitories are frequent cases in Kenya.Violence trauma that was caused by post election violence in 2007 is a reality to the Kenyan students today. In most schools, no counseling was provided for students when the institutions opened, after the violence that followed the disputed 2007 presidential election. Some students were victims of the violence, which was witnessed in many parts of the country between January and March 2008. Without adequate counseling at the right time, such students might have rioted and burnt down school property and projecting the effects of what is commonly referred to as hold up trauma (http//www. par. or. ke/documents/policy). 2. 1 Recommendations to the Challenge of Education in Kenya The Kenya government should increase funding to the education sector to facilitate the undertaking of its mandate such as curriculum development, education research and implementation of educational policies. The 20112012 Kenya budget saw the education sector receive a boost in funding KSH 53. 2 billion was act aside for tertiary education,KSH 8. 2 Billion for free primary education and KSH18. 5 billion for free day secondary education, and KSH 1. 67 billion for free school feeding programme.However, with the funding made available to education sector the government still needs to place some stress on the management of funds to avoid the mismanagementmisappropriation of the funds. The challenges of the shortage of should also be addressed. The government of Kenya should revise the salaries and remuneration packages in teaching profession. Better benefits, salaries and remuneration packages would also trained teachers staying with the teaching profession rather than applying their knowledge and skills in other profession. Also, there could a reduction of brain drain as teachers would stay in Kenya to teach.Subsequently, there would be a declined in the employment of untrained teachers thereby maintaining the quality standard of e ducation. On the part of student enrollment, the government should strive to make education accessible as possible to all. For instance the government of Kenya should provide sponsorship programmes and bursaries for those students unable to pay school fees. Moreover, for students marginalized areas, the government could provide mobile schools or set up intensive programme for those students from nomadic communities.The government should also establish programme to for the needs of adult education as well as special education, while conducting sensitization efforts on the importance of adult literacy and special literacy respectively. 3. 0 Conclusion This paper has described the formal education in Kenya in pre-colonial and post- colonial era. It has also looked into the current education policies that have revealed the government efforts in improving education in order to achieve its objectives.Nevertheless, it has shed light on the challenges facing the education sector in its cont inued development and implementations of the government policies geared towards vision 2030. It is therefore necessary for the government to address these issues and to be practical in looking for their possible solutions, so that education can fully contribute to the development in all aspects. 3. 1 References Bogonko, S. N. (1992). A history of modern education in Kenya (1895-1991). Nairobi Evans Brothers (Kenya) Ltd. Kibera, L. W. and Kimoti, A. (2007). Fundamentals of sociology of Education.Nairobi University of Nairobi Press. Ministry of Education 1987, Education in Kenya Information Handbook. Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Foundation. Mwanje. J. I. , Akoten, J. Riechi, A. , Barasa, T. , Oyugi, L. , Omolo, J. , Junge, L. , Kimbwarata, J. and Mukasa, G. (2008). Radical Reform for Kenyas Education domain Implementing Policies Responsive to Vision 2030. Retrieved July 6, 2011, from http//www. /par. or. ke/documents/policy Republic of Kenya (1964). Kenya Education Commission Report, part I . Nairobi Government Press.Republic of Kenya (1981). Second university Report of presidential working company (Mackey Report). Nairobi Government Printer. Republic of Kenya (1976). The National Committee on Educational Objectives and Policies(Gathachi Report). Nairobi Government Printer. Republic of Kenya (1999). Totally Integrated Quality Education and Training (TIQET) Koech Report. Nairobi Government Printer. Sifuna, D. N. , Chege, F. N. and Oanda, I. O. (2006). Themes in the Study of the Foundations of Education. Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Foundation. picpic

Shadow Kiss Chapter 29

Twenty-nineNEARLY A WEEK LATER, I showed up at Adrians door.We hadnt had classes since the attack, only when our normal curfew hours were still in effect, and it was al intimately bedtime. Adrians flavor registered complete and total shock when he saw me. It was the first time Id ever so sought him out, rather than vice versa.Little dhampir, he said, stepping aside. Come in.I did, and was nearly overwhelmed by the smell of alcohol as I passed him. The Academys guest housing was nice, but he clearly hadnt done frequently to keep his rooms clean. I had a feeling hed probably been drinking nons assoil since the attack. The TV was on, and a small table by the couch held a half-empty bottle of vodka. I cleaned it up and read the label. It was in Russian.Bad time? I asked, setting it tail end grim.Never a bad time for you, he told me gallantly. His face timbreed haggard. He was still as good-looking as ever, but in that location were dark circles chthonian his eyes like he hadnt been sleeping well. He waved me toward an armchair and sat d ingest on the couch. Havent call forn much of you.I leaned back. I arrivent wanted to be seen, I admitted.Id ruffianlyly spoken to anyone since the attack. Id spent a lot of time by myself or with Lissa. I took comfort from being around her, but we hadnt said much. She understood that I deprivationed to process things and had scarce been there for me, not pushing me on things I didnt want to guggle close to plain though there were a dozen things she wanted to ask.The Academys out of work had been honored in one assort memorial service, although their families had made arrangements for for each one persons respective funeral. Id kaput(p) to the larger service. The chapel had been packed, with standing room lonesome(prenominal). Father Andrew had read the names of the dead, listing Dimitri and Molly among them. No one was talking almost what had really happened to them. at that place was too much other grief anyway. We were dr receiveing in it. No one even knew how the Academy would pick up the pieces and start running again.You look worse than I do, I told Adrian. I didnt think that was possible.He brought the bottle to his lips and took a prospicient drink. Nah, you al shipway look good. As for me well, its hard to explain. The strains atomic number 18 getting to me. Theres so much sorrow around here. You cant even begin to understand. It radiates from everyone on a spiritual level. Its overwhelming. It makes your dark aura downright cheerful.Is that why youre drinking?Yup. Its shut my aura-vision right off, thankfully, so I cant give you a report today. He offered me the bottle, and I shook my head. He shrugged and took some other drink. So what can I do for you, Rose? I have a feeling you arent here to check on me.He was right, and I exactly felt a little bad near what I was here for. Id done a lot of thinking this last week. Processing my grief for stonemason had been hard. In fact, I hadnt even really quite resolved it when the ghost business had started. Now I had to mourn all over again. After all, much than Dimitri had been lost. Teachers had died, guardians and Moroi alike. None of my close friends had died, but people I knew from classes had. Theyd been students at the Academy as long as I had, and it was weird to think Id never see them again. That was a lot of loss to deal with, a lot of people to severalize goodbye to.But Dimitri. He was a different case. After all, how did you regularize goodbye to someone who wasnt exactly gone? That was the problem.I need bullion, I told Adrian, not bothering with pretense.He arched an eyebrow. Unexpected. From you, at least. I get that kind of betoken a lot from others. Pray tell, what would I be funding?I glanced away from him, focusing on the television. It was a commercial for some kind of deodorant.Im sledding the Academy, I said finally.Also unexpected. Youre only a few months out from graduatio n.I met his eyes. It doesnt matter. I have things to do directly.I never figured youd be one of the dropout guardians. You button to join the blood whores?No, I said. Of course not.Dont act so offended. Thats not an unreasonable assumption. If youre not outlet to be a guardian, what else are you passing play to do?I told you. I have things I have to take care of.He arched an eyebrow. Things that are going to get you into derange?I shrugged. He laughed.Stupid question, huh? Everything you do gets you in trouble. He propped his elbow up on the couchs arm and rested his chin in his hand. whyd you come to me for money?Because you have it.This also made him laugh. And why do you think Ill give it to you?I didnt say anything. I just looked at him, forcing as much womanly charm as I could into my expression. His smile went away, and his green eyes narrowed in frustration. He jerked his gaze away. horseshit it, Rose. Dont do that. non now. Youre playing on how I feel about you. That s not fair. He gulped more vodka.He was right. Id come to him because I conceit I could use his crush to get what I wanted. It was low, but I had no choice. Getting up, I move over and sat beside him. I held his hand.Please, Adrian, I said. Please help me. Youre the only one I can go to.Thats not fair, he repeated, slurring his words a little. Youre using those come-hither eyes on me, but its not me you want. Its never been me. Its always been Belikov, and God only knows what youll do now that hes gone.He was right about that too. Will you help me? I asked, still playing up the charisma. Youre the only one I could talk to the only one who really understands me.Are you coming back? he countered.Eventually.Tipping his head back, he exhaled a heavy breath. His hair, which Id always thought looked stylishly messy, simply looked messy today. Maybe its for the best if you march on. Maybe youll get over him faster if you go away for a while. Wouldnt hurt to be away from Lissas aura eit her. It mightiness slow yours from darkening stop this rage you always seem to be in. You need to be happier. And stop visual perception ghosts.My seduction faltered for a moment. Lissa isnt why Im seeing ghosts. Well, she is, but not in the way you think. I see the ghosts because Im shadow-kissed. Im tied to the world of the dead, and the more I kill, the stronger that connection becomes. Its why I see the dead and why I feel weird when Strigoi are near. I can sense them now. Theyre tied to that world too.He frowned. Youre saying the auras mean nothing? That you arent taking away the effects of spirit?No. Thats happening too. Thats why this has all been so confusing. I thought there was just one thing going on, but thereve been deuce. I see the ghosts because of being shadow-kissed. Im getting upset and angry bad, even because Im taking away Lissas dark side. Thats why my auras darkening, why Im getting so enraged lately. Right now, it just sort of plays out as a really bad temp er. I frowned, thinking of the night Dimitri had stopped me from going after Jesse. But I dont know what itll turn into next.Adrian sighed. Why is everything so complicated with you?Will you help me? Please, Adrian? I ran my fingers along his hand. Please help me.Low, low. This was so low of me, but it didnt matter. Only Dimitri did.Finally, Adrian looked back at me. For the first time ever, he looked vulnerable. When you come back, will you give me a fair shot?I hid my surprise. What do you mean?Its like I said. Youve never wanted me, never even considered me. The flowers, the flirting it rolled right off you. You were so gone for him, and zippo noticed. If you go do your thing, will you take me seriously? Will you give me a chance when you return?I stared. I definitely hadnt expected this. My initial instinct was to say no, that I could never love anybody again, that my heart had been shattered along with that piece of my soul that Dimitri held. But Adrian was looking at me so e arnestly, and there was none of his joking nature. He meant what he said, and I realized all the affection for me hed always teased about hadnt been a jape either. Lissa had been right about his feelings.Will you? he repeated.God only knows what youll do now that hes gone.Of course. Not an honest answer, but a necessary one.Adrian looked away and drank more vodka. There wasnt much left. When are you leaving?Tomorrow.Setting the bottle down, he stood up and walked off into the bedroom. He returned with a large stack of cash. I wondered if he kept it under his bed or something. He handed it to me wordlessly and then picked up the phone and made some calls. The temperateness was up, and the human world, which handled most Moroi money, was also up and awake.I tried to watch TV while he talked, but I couldnt concentrate. I kept wanting to scratch the back of my neck. Because there was no way of knowing exactly how many Strigoi I and the others had killed, wed all been given a different kind of tattoo instead of the usual set of molnija marks. Id forget its name, but this tattoo looked like a little star. It meant that the bearer had been in a battle and killed many Strigoi.When he finally finished his calls, Adrian handed me a piece of paper. It had the name and address of a bank in Missoula.Go there, he said. Im guessing you have to go to Missoula first anyway if youre actually going on to anywhere civilized. Theres an account set up for you with a lot of money in it. Talk to them, and theyll finish the paperwork with you.I stood up and stuffed the bills in my jacket. convey you, I said.Without hesitating, I reached out and hugged him. The scent of vodka was overpowering, but I felt I owed him. I was taking advantage of his feelings for me in order to further my own devices. He put his arms around me and held me for several seconds before letting go. I brushed my lips against his cheek as we broke apart, and I thought he might stop breathing.I wont forget thi s, I murmured in his ear.I dont suppose youll tell me where youre going? he asked.No, I said. Im sorry.Just keep your yell and come back.I didnt actually use the word promise, I pointed out.He smiled and pressed a kiss to my forehead. Youre right. Im going to miss you, little dhampir. Be careful. If you ever need anything, let me know. Ill be waiting for you.I thanked him again and left, not bothering to tell him he might be waiting a long time. There was a very real possibility that I might not be coming back.The next day, I got up early, long before most of campus was awake. Id hardly slept. I slung a bag over my shoulder and walked over to the main office in the administrative building. The office wasnt open yet either, so I sat down on the floor in the hallway outside of it. Studying my hands as I waited, I noticed two tiny flecks of gold on my thumbnail. They were the only remnants of my manicure. About twenty minutes later, the secretary showed up with the keys and let me in. What can I do for you? she asked, once she was seated at her desk.I handed her a stack of papers Id been holding. Im withdrawing.Her eyes widened to impossible size. Butwhatyou cantI tapped the stack. I can. Its all filled out.Still gaping, she muttered something to me about waiting, and then scurried out of the room. A few minutes later, she returned with Headmistress Kirova. Kirova had apparently been briefed and was looking at me very disapprovingly down her beaklike nose.Miss Hathaway, whats the meaning of this?Im leaving, I said. Quitting. Dropping out. Whatever.You cant do that, she said.Well, obviously I can, since you guys keep withdrawal paperwork in the library. Its all filled out the way it needs to be.Her anger changed into something sadder and more anxious. I know a lot has gone on lately were all having trouble adjusting but thats no reason to make a hasty decision. If anything, we need you more than ever. She was almost pleading. Hard to believe shed wanted to expel me six months ago.This wasnt hasty, I said. I thought a lot about it.Let me at least get your mother so we can talk this out.She left for Europe three days ago. Not that it matters anyway. I pointed to the line on the top form that said date of birth. Im eighteen today. She cant do anything anymore. This is my choice. Now, will you stamp the form, or are you actually going to try to restrain me? Pretty certainly I could take you in a fight, Kirova.They stamped my packet, not happily. The secretary made a copy of the official paper that declared I was no long-acting a student at St. Vladimirs Academy. Id need it to get out the main gate.It was a long walk to the front of the school, and the western sky was red as the sun slipped over the horizon. The weather had spryed up, even at night. Spring had finally come. It made for good walking weather since I had a ways to go before I made it to the highway. From there, Id hitchhike to Missoula. Hitchhiking wasnt safe, but the silver st ake in my coat pocket made me feel pretty hold about anything Id face. No one had taken it away from me after the raid, and it would work just as well against creepy humans as it did with Strigoi.I could just make out the gates when I sensed her. Lissa. I stopped walking and turned toward a cluster of bud-covered trees. Shed been standing in them, perfectly still, and had managed to track her thoughts so well that I hadnt realized she was practically right next to me. Her hair and eyes glowed in the sunset, and she seemed too beautiful and too ethereal to be part of this dreary landscape.Hey, I said.Hey. She wrapped her arms around herself, cold even in her coat. Moroi didnt have the same resistance to temperature changes that dhampirs did. What I found warm and springlike was still chilly to her. I knew it, she said. Ever since that day they said his body was gone. Something told me youd do this. I was just waiting.Can you read my theme now? I asked ruefully.No, I can just read you. Finally. I cant believe how blind I was. I cant believe I never noticed. Victors comment he was right. She glanced off at the sunset, then turned her gaze back on me. A flash of anger, both in her feelings and her eyes, hit me. Why didnt you tell me? she cried. Why didnt you tell me you loved Dimitri?I stared. I couldnt remember the last time Lissa had yelled at anyone. Maybe last fall, when all the Victor insanity had gone down. Loud outbursts were my thing, not hers. Even when torturing Jesse, her voice had been deadly quiet.I couldnt tell anyone, I said.Im your best friend, Rose. Weve been through everything together. Do you really think I would have told? I would have kept it secret.I looked at the ground. I know you would have. I just I dont know. I couldnt talk about it. Not even to you. I cant explain it.How She groped for the question her mind had already formed. How serious was it? Was it just you or ?It was both of us, I told her. He felt the same. But we knew we cou ldnt be together, not with our ageand, well, not when we were supposed to be protecting you.Lissa frowned. What do you mean?Dimitri always said that if we were involved, wed worry more about protecting each other than you. We couldnt do that.Guilt coursed through her at the thought that shed been responsible for keeping us apart.Its not your fault, I said quickly.Surelythere must(prenominal) have been a way. It wouldnt have been a problem.I shrugged, unwilling to think about or mention our last kiss in the forest, back when Dimitri and I had thought wed figured out a solution to all of our problems.I dont know, I said. We just tried to stay apart. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didnt.Her mind was a tumble of emotions. She felt sorry for me, but at the same time, she was mad. You should have told me, she repeated. I feel like you dont impudence me.Of course I trust you.Is that why youre sneaking off?That has nothing to do with trust, I admitted. Its mewell, I didnt want to tell you. I couldnt bear to tell you I was leaving or explain why.I already know, she said. I figured it out.How? I asked. Lissa was full of surprises today.I was there. Last fall when we took that van into Missoula. The shopping trip? You and Dimitri were talking about Strigoi, about how becoming one makes you something twisted and evilhow it destroys the person you used to be and makes you do horrible things. And I heard She had trouble saying it. I had trouble hearing it, and my eyes grew wet. The memory was too harsh, thinking of sitting with him that day, back when we were first falling in love. Lissa swallowed and continued. I heard you both say youd rather die than become a monster like that.Silence fell between us. The wind picked up and blew our hair around, dark and light.I have to do this, Liss. I have to do it for him.No, she said firmly. You dont have to. You didnt promise him anything.Not in words, no. But you you dont understand.I understand that youre trying to distri bute and that this is as good a way as any. You need to find another way to let him go.I shook my head. I have to do this.Even if it means leaving me?The way she said it, the way she looked at me oh God. A flood of memories flitted through my mind. Wed been together since childhood. Inseparable. Bound. And yetDimitri and I had been connected too. Damn it. Id never wanted to have to choose between them.I have to do this, I said yet again. Im sorry.Youre supposed to be my guardian and go with me to college, she argued. Youre shadow-kissed. Were supposed to be together. If you leave me The ugly coil of darkness was starting to raise its head in my chest. My voice was tight when I spoke. If I leave you, theyll get you another guardian. Two of them. Youre the last Dragomir. Theyll keep you safe.But they wont be you, Rose, she said. Those luminous green eyes held mine, and the anger in me cooled. She was so beautiful, so mellisonant and she seemed so reasonable. She was right. I owed it to her. I needed to Stop it I yelled, turning away. Shed been using her magic. Do not use obsession on me. Youre my friend. Friends dont use their powers on each other.Friends dont abandon each other, she snapped back. If you were my friend, you wouldnt do it.I spun back toward her, careful not to look too closely into her eyes, in case she tried compulsion on me again. The rage in me exploded.Its not about you, okay? This time, its about me. Not you. All my life, Lissa all my life, its been the same. They come first. Ive lived my life for you. Ive trained to be your shadow, but you know what? I want to come first. I need to take care of myself for once. Im tired of looking out for everyone else and having to put aside what I want. Dimitri and I did that, and look what happened. Hes gone. I will never hold him again. Now I owe it to him to do this. Im sorry if it hurts you, but its my choiceId shouted the words, not even pausing for a breath, and I hoped my voice hadnt carried to the guardians on duty at the gate. Lissa was staring at me, shocked and hurt. Tears ran down her cheeks, and part of me shriveled up at hurting the person Id sworn to protect.You love him more than me, she said in a small voice, sounding very young.He needs me right now.I need you. Hes gone, Rose.No, I said. But he will be soon. I reached up my sleeve and took off the chotki shed given me for Christmas. I held it out to her. She hesitated and then took it.Whats this for? she asked.I cant wear it. Its for a Dragomir guardian. Ill take it again when I I had almost said if, not when. I think she knew that. When I get back.Her hands unopen around the beads. Please, Rose. Please dont leave me.Im sorry, I said. There were no other words to offer up. Im sorry.I left her there crying as I walked toward the gate. A piece of my soul had died when Dimitri had fallen. Turning my back on her now, I felt another piece die as well. Soon there wouldnt be anything left inside of me.The guardians at the gate were as shocked as the secretary and Kirova had been, but there was nothing they could do. Happy birthday to me, I thought bitterly. Eighteen at last. It was nothing like I had expected.They opened the gates and I stepped through, outside of the schools grounds and over the wards. The lines were invisible, but I felt curiously vulnerable and exposed, as if Id leapt a great chasm. And yet, at the same time, I felt free and in control. I started walking down the narrow road. The sun was nearly gone Id have to rely on moonlight soon.When I was out of earshot of the guardians, I stopped and spoke. stonemason.I had to wait a long time. When he appeared, I could barely see him at all. He was almost completely transparent.Its time, isnt it? Youre goingyoure finally moving on toWell, I had no pool cue where he was moving on to. I didnt know anymore what lay beyond, whether it was the realms Father Andrew believed in or some entirely different world that Id visited. Nonetheless , Mason understood and nodded.Its been more than forty days, I mused. So I guess youre overdue. Im glad I mean, I hope you find peace. Although I kind of hoped youd be able to lead me to him.Mason shook his head, and he didnt need to say a word for me to understand what he wanted to tell me. Youre on your own now, Rose.Its okay. You deserve your rest. Besides, I think I know where to start looking. Id thought about this constantly over the last week. If Dimitri was where I believed he was, I had a lot of work forward of me. Masons help would have been nice, but I didnt want to keep bothering him. It seemed like he had enough to deal with.Goodbye, I told him. convey for your help I Ill miss you.His form grew fainter and fainter, and just before it went altogether, I saw the hint of a smile, that laughing and mischievous smile Id loved so much. For the first time since his death, thinking about Mason no longer devastated me. I was sad and I really would miss him, but I knew hed mo ved on to something good something really good. I no longer felt guilty.Turning away, I stared at the long road winding off ahead of me. I sighed. This trip might take awhile.Then start walking, Rose, I muttered to myself.I set off, off to kill the man I loved.As always, I can never express enough gratitude to the friends and family who hang with me through the ups and downs that go along with writing a book let alone one as powerful as this. Many thanks to David and Christina for their speedy beta reading to LA. Gordon and Sherry Kirk for their help with Russian to Synde Korman for her help with Romanian to my agent Jim McCarthy who is wise and does all the hard stuff for me to editors Jessica Rothenberg and Ben Schrank for all of their guidance to the Team Seattle authors for their distraction and good cheer and to Jay for being infinitely patientand even making a good joke once in a while.