Soon after KICD Approval of Career Dynamics in the 21st Century for circulation in Kenyan Secondary Schools in 2016, I was challenged by one officer, who is currently a senior authority in the Ministry of Education HQs, Jogoo Hse. ” Since charity begins at home, go and prove to us your expertise in improving performance standards in your own county,” she casually intimated.
At that time, it was difficult to know how to go about this challenge, but I embraced it all the same. Initially, thought of the right strategy to apply became challenging, for a while.
Luckily, in March 2018, I introduced our empowerment strategy to the KESSHA Conference, Nyeri, my home county during their meeting in Mombasa. Since then, we have interacted with numerous schools not only through our publications, but also quite a number of seminars, for students and teachers too.
The very first seminar happened in May 2018 and was for a boys’ school situated near Karatina, Nyeri. The same involved ALL teachers from the school, as well as the form 3 and 4 classes. Interestingly, the principal made a roll call to ensure that all teachers attended the seminar. Eventually, the school’s mean grade shot from 4.4 to 5.0 in 2018. In 2019, the mean grade improved to 5.5. The same rose to 5.8 in 2020, despite the implications of the coronavirus pandemic.
In another school, this time for girls that is situated in Othaya Sub-County, we conducted a seminar for teachers in April 2019 and another one for the form 4 class, a week after. The School’s mean grade rose from 3.9 to 4.4 in 2019 and retained the same level in 2020 – the then principal is still in Career Dynamics Forum.
In yet another boys’ school situated in Othaya, Nyeri, we conducted a seminar for the form 4 class in May 2019. The school’s mean grade shot from 6.5 to 7.4 in 2019 and still maintained the same improved level in 2020. The former principal and current deputy principal are still in this Career Dynamics Forum. The latter personally supervised and witnessed the knowledge dissemination process, throughout the session. Interestingly, another improvement yardstick applicable in all the institutions we have empowered (even in other counties), indicates that students qualifying to join universities have consistently continued increasing.
This year, we are looking forward to the performance of yet another Nyeri school (for girls) around Karatina that benefited from our seminar for the current form 3 and 4 Classes in May 2021. Interestingly, our empowerment mission has finally extended almost to the home village of yours truly.
One girls’ school, which is less than 5 km from our rural home acquired 10 copies of Career Dynamics in the 21st Century in 2018. Last September, they acquired 10 more of the same and in addition, 10 copies of the advancement titled ” Living Beyond Survival: No More Tiptoeing in Life.
At the same time, they indicated interest in a seminar for the form 2 class. The same takes place on 17/10/2021 at 2. 00 – 4.30 pm. After this, it becomes extremely necessary to consider and implement the steps that will immediately raise the performance standards in that 6 stream girls’ school – remember that prophets are hardly recognized in their own homeground.
The good news is that we are currently strategically positioned, thus capable of influencing the immediate improvement of performance standards of this school. Keep in mind that the school is situated near the birthplace of yours truly, whereas the principal is still in this Career Dynamics Forum.
Meanwhile, the KICD challenge about raising education standards in our county had led to writing a proposal to the then TSC County Director for Nyeri (after she acquired and read our publications). The main focus was on performance improvement strategy in schools located in Nyeri County. Also, the proposal was to be discussed with the KESSHA chair for implementation purposes.
However, that never worked as the county director was during the process, promoted to the position of TSC Staffing Director. Nevertheless, empowerment of future leaders from our home county, as well as in numerous others continue taking shape, irrespective of the hiccups involved.
Seemingly, we still continue responding to, “We wish to commend your endeavors of improving education standards in the country,”…wrote the then KNEC CEO and former KICD Research Director, on 15th Jan 2019, upon our request for performance statistics of the schools we had empowered in 2018. As such, we are upto now still complying with the assertions of the KNEC CEO, aren’t we?
Rgds
Mwangi Wanjumbi (MKIM)
Personal Empowerment Coach
Seasoned Speaker/Consultant Trainer on Strategy, Performance, Change Management and Leadership.
Competency Based Curriculum-CBC Architect
Author of 1. KICD approved Career Dynamics in the 21st Century, 2. Living Beyond Survival:No More Tiptoeing in Life
- The 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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