The school system schedules have now normalized after experiencing the impact of the corona virus pandemic. Hopefully, the stress associated with the education system will be a thing of the past.
As such, during the first weeks of this term, we have largely been engaged in critical observations that could be helpful to every educationist and more particularly, institutional managers. Most importantly, those who have continually followed our activities know that our Bottom Up Empowerment (not economic) Strategy is research based.
As the old adage says, “charity begins at home.” We first tested our ideas at home as is clearly illustrated in page 105 or 106 of the KICD approved Career Dynamics in the 21st Century, depending on the edition, witthin reach. This was followed by testing the effectiveness of the strategy in the school system through the incoming form 2 classes of State House Girls’ High School in 2015, 2016 & 2017.
Notably, the 2018 KCSE exam results led to State House Girls’ High School becoming one of the most improved schools in Kenya. The rest are details that are well articulated in the 3rd edition of Career Dynamics in the 21st Century. Another school has joied the list of schools that have continued proving the efficacy of our Bottom-Up Empowerment Strategy.
But, first we need to highlight some of the critical observations that we have recently made since schools opened in January 2023. How readers will take these findings will clearly depend on their personal focus towards work, in the school system. If it is mainly about financial rewards for the job done, it may be difficult for us to have the same perspectives.
If personal vision is about empowerment of our future leaders or those under their care, the rewards being results of focused work efforts, then we may be on the same wavelength and thus good to go. The first observation then is for all to take our Bottom-Up Empowerment Strategy seriously. KICD used it for architecture of the Competency Based Curriculum – CBC, though our main aim was to correct the challenges noticed in and occasioned by the 8-4-4 system.
Second, be aware of the impact of the weaknesses of the education system to your institution. Pumping knowledge for example into the minds of your students in the absence of the right focus or strategic direction is what leads to poor attitudes and performance as well as varying levels of indiscipline in schools. That includes drug abuse, burning dormitories and many more.
Third, avoid the interactions of Girls’ Schools with boys’ schools especially during the third term when exam preparations are ongoing. We have noticed and even shared in this forum that emotional intelligence of girls is easily interfered with, a situation that completely distracts their attention, especially during the whole duration of the exam period. That has been confirmed once more based on experiences of schools that we empowered in 2022. These amongst others are serious observations worth putting into perspective, aren’t they?
JFI
Interesting Case Studies
Kindly consider quite a number of observations in support of the efficacy of our empowerment strategy. Most particularly, taking our advise seriously is critical.
- A certain institutional manager acquired personal copies of our publications. We were invited for a seminar for the form 2 class in 2020. We advised the principal to acquire some copies of our publications for reference by students, but the advice was ignored. In 2022, we advised the school to embrace our follow-up seminar titled ” Sustainable Life Strategy,” for the 2020 form 2 class, while in form 4. The advice was again ignored. The school’s mean grade scaled down from 7.5 – 6.8 in the 2022 KCSE exams – quite sad indeed.
- Another Institutional Manager of a Boys’ School in Machakos County had acquired 20 copies of our publications in 2019. In 2021, he acquired a further 20 copies and booked for an empowerment seminar for students. This seminar was cancelled 3 times. On the 3rd ocassion particularly, we were on site. The principal urgued that burning of schools led him to invite a university professor to address stress management instead (which incidentally is part of our holistic seminar). The school mean-grade dropped from 5.5 -4.6. Recently, we learnt that the principal was removed from the school system.
- A Certain institutional manager of a Boys’ school acquired our publications and booked for a seminar of Sept 2022 aiming to improve attitudes and discipline levels of students. The seminar was never confirmed in time therefore cancelled. We have now learnt that the school’s dormitories were burnt, upon resumption in January 2023 – very sad indeed.
- In 2018, we introduced our publications to a renown school in the Eastern Region. They never took any interest even after repeating the same in early 2020. In early 2022, we visited the same school, which had already experienced serious burning of dormitories. This time, they not only acquired our publications, but also engaged us for a students’ seminar at the same. The discipline in the school stabilized, whereas performance has not only made the school to be best in the county, but also, a leader in the entire eastern region.
- An Extra-County school in Kiambu County engaged us for a seminar for the form 2 class in January 2020. The same class enjoyed a follow-up seminar in 2022 while in form 4. We were also engaged for empowerment of the 2022 form 2 class, around the same time. Based on the school’s experience, we were again (for the 4th time) engaged for empowerment of the 2023 form 2 class in January 2023.
The contacts of each of the educational managers under reference, is available on request. Evidently, our research based empowerment strategy in schools continues taking shape, not only for the benefit of our future leaders, but also their handlers. Your institution is equally WELCOME!!!
Rgds
Mwangi Wanjumbi (MKIM)
Personal Empowerment Coach,
Speaker/Trainer Consultant on Strategy, Performance, Change Management and Leadership.
Seasoned Trainer of Trainers,
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 254722516210
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