My last interactions with schools this season was during the first week of March 2021. One of the seemingly trivial experiences in a leading school, has kept lingering in my mind, probably based on the eventual impact, once the bigger picture is put in perspective. It now seems appropriate to share the same.
But first, our mission of empowerment in schools since 2015, was influenced by the first edition of “Career Dynamics in the 21st Century,” long before it was approved for circulation in schools, or used for alignment of the Competency Based Curriculum-CBC. Upon visiting schools, and expressing our interests, school principals had only limited choices, during these initial stages. They could either acquire the concept or totally ignore the empowerment efforts.
In the same year 2015, State House Girls High School, Nairobi, embraced testing of our ideas, through a seminar for the outgoing form one class, during the subject selection excercise, as they proceeded to form 2. The good news is that the eventual results, led to invitation to conduct similar seminars, in the same school, in 2016 and 2017.
Soon, Alliance High School and Precious Blood Girls SS, Riruta embraced both our concept and seminars on 14th and 27th February 2016, respectively.That was quite inspiring and we were now convinced that the mission was taking the desired shape. Imagine influencing such high performing and renowned schools!
The challenge now was how to reach the entire school system, even as we continued visiting schools on a one on one basis. Luckily, the strategy of reaching out to all schools in the country started taking shape by 2017. Making presentations during CDE meetings, followed by National and County KESSHA CONFERENCES took off. Nairobi County through a CDE meeting led all, in January 2017. This was followed by Kiambu County KESSHA CONFERENCE in April 2017. Naturally, our empowerment mission took an entirely different shape. However, not every school manager took any interest, despite KICD approval of our concept and various evidences of the impact of our contribution, to the improvement of education standards in the country.
In 2018, the EMPOWERMENT mission was boosted by an advancement of “Career Dynamics in the 21st Century,” titled “Living Beyond Survival: No More Tiptoeing in Life,” based on persistent pressure from readers. They needed to know how the high flying achieved through application of ideas in the first publication can be sustained. Interestingly, the high order skills revealed through the second publication attracted FOREWORDS from serious and respectable authorities, who had already found value in the first publication.
After all these efforts and evidences, imagine some Institutional managers in schools, still continue being DOUBTING THOMASES! In the first week of March 2021, we interacted with Institutional managers in Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Nyeri and Laikipia Counties. The perceptions of one principal in one of the national schools was rather unusual. While most Institutional managers take up either our first publication, both or nothing at all, this principal was the first one ever to select only the second publication titled “Living Beyond Survival.”
Me: Why that one only and not both?
Principal: I can’t read the first one, since I have already chosen my career.
Me: Really? But, the future leaders under your care are key beneficiaries of Career Dynamics in the 21st Century, aren’t they?
Principal: But they can’t read before me.
Me: Why then climb the tree from the top?
Principal: If by any chance I find the need of reading the first one, I will call you for the same (as he retained the desired title).
The perceptions of the principal of the boys’ school are still of great concern. Could he still be a victim of the boy child phenomenon? Does he truly understand the boy child phenomenon, it’s impact and the requisite solutions? Surprisingly, our last 10 empowerment seminars in secondary schools, since early 2020, happened in only 2 (20%), that are managed by graduates from the boy child phenomenon. Why so? The other 8 (80%) have been schools managed by alumni of the girl child empowerment. Quite commendable, isn’t it?
As such, could alumni of the boy child phenomenon be reinforcing the same challenges? If not, shouldn’t successful alumni of the boy child phenomenon do everything possible to save their likely unlucky successors? More still, how will the girl child excel fully in the society, in the absence of an equally empowered boy child?
Incidentally, chapter 2 of “Living Beyond Survival: No More Tiptoeing in Life” clearly brings out how the rain started beating us, more particularly, the boy child. Just for interest sake, in 2017, we spent invaluable time at the MOE Hqs, strategically advising that if every school in Kenya acquired a copy of “Career Dynamics in the 21st Century,” and applied the knowledge therein, disempowerment and more particularly, continued unemployment, especially of school graduates, could easily be sorted out.
Sadly, those concerned only imagined the likely monetary benefits accruing towards solving the problem, rather than the solution itself. As such, allow me to appreciate all those Institutional Managers who have embraced our 21st Century empowerment strategy, especially through our concepts and respective seminars.
We strongly feel that the boy child and girls too, under the care of these managers are no longer endangered. More still, we believe more will continue benefitting from our highly effective empowerment strategy, isn’t it?
Rgds
Mwangi Wanjumbi (MKIM)
Personal Empowerment Coach
Consultant/Seasoned Speaker/Trainer on Strategy, Change, Performance Management and Leadership.
Officially UNSUNG CBC Architect
Author of 1. KICD approved Career Dynamics in the 21st Century, 2. Living Beyond Survival:No More Tiptoeing in Life 3. 21st Century Student:Are You Creating The Future Today? Also, Retired 5 Year Monthly Strategy Columnist (2013 – 2018) for The SME Today Magazine Phone 254772516210
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