Many years ago, I got attracted into conducting a formal research, which involved the impact of education on entrepreneurship development in Kenya. I selected the then Barclays Bank Business Club as the case study of focus. The research became so interesting that in July 2007, it was published in the Business in Africa Journal, which was being published in South Africa.
Alongside, I was able to understand the intricacies of conducting any research. Research methodology involves research experiments, questionnaires or surveys, case studies, Interviews, observation as well as secondary data analysis. Though I have never conducted any formal research ever since, it has been important to embrace the different methodologies as our empowerment mission continues taking shape.
Particularly, it has been easier to apply case studies, interviews, and observations depending on the desired outcomes, not only in our publications but also continued writings. Interestingly, the observation approach has been quite attractive in our situation. Why?
Any time we conduct a seminar or a training program anywhere, it has been quite easy to make worthwhile observations. The same eventually evolve into case studies that continually lead to formidable lessons.
A case in point is the fact that in more than almost 100% of the seminars we have conducted in secondary schools, have been preceeded by the presence of our publications in the different schools. Further, we keep observing the level of interactions with our our publications in different schools. Why?
Only then can we know how our ideas of helping Kenyans to transit from 20th to 21st Century paradigms are being embraced. The more that happens, the more we are encouraged to to keep inspiring positive change. Most of the observations have been quite encouraging.
About one year ago for example, feedback from students upon conducting a seminar in one Machakos based national school indicated that the que for reading the then 15 copies of our publications, had been too long. Immediately, the school acquired 60 more copies of our publications.
Feedback in yet another national school where we conducted a seminar for the form 4 Class during the second term of this year, indicated that some students were quite familiar with our publications. Upon visiting the same school, a few weeks after, we met the school librarian who recognized yours truly. “You look very familiar. Your publications have become quite popular with students these days. We need more of the same and we will contact you on the same, said the seemingly excited librarian. I could only thank her for the feedback.
Interactions with schools this term have been disrupted by various factors that are beyond our control. Nevertheless, while visiting a Tharaka Nthi School, the principal was on her desk having the only copy of Career Dynamics in the 21st Century acquired by the school early in the year. “Oh, it’s exciting to find our publication on your desk,” I intimated. “Yes indeed, I keep reading it every now and then,” the principal revealed.
Further on, in a Meru County School, we encountered a principal who we had previously met in a Kiambu County school. In this Kiambu school, we had conducted a seminar in 2018, which started transforming the school’s performance trajectory. “So, what’s new do you have for now as we wait for engagements in January next year?” the principal wondered.
“The book titled Career Dynamics in the 21st Century is now on the 3rd Edition since 2021. You acquired the 1st edition in your earlier school,” I revealed while at the same time pinpointing the most notable improvements. The principal acquired a copy of the same as we wait for more interactions next year.
Every interest in our empowerment efforts is always quite inspiring. But, it’s not always rossy. We are occasionally disoriented by the interactions with a few schools. Some teachers and principal of a National School had read our publications, hence a seminar invite for the form 4 Class in the second term this year.
While conducting the seminar for the form 4 Class, we noticed that none of the students at all, was familiar with our publications, which already existed in the school for more than 2 years. That became of great concern to us and we sometimes in September this year, decided to find out whether the situation has changed.
This time we contacted the Librarian who was familiar with our publications. “How are publications fairing in your school? We enquired from the Librarian. “Your publications as well as others are almost as fresh as they were, when acquired almost 2 years ago. We also have many others which are experiencing the same. This continues happening since we have a challenged reading culture in our school,” revealed the Librarian.
“What do you think should be done to improve this reading culture?” I wondered. ” I suggest that next time, you should conduct seminars starting from the form 1 or 2 Classes. I couldn’t agree more with the Librarian.
Reading culture is a great challenge in most Kenyan schools. Interestingly, we have noticed that our empowerment ideas have continued contributing towards improving this reading culture, as well as performance trajectory, wherever we are engaged for seminars involving lower classes.
Perhaps that is why, quite a number of schools keep continually inviting us to conduct seminars for form 1 and 2 Classes, especially during subject selection sessions. The good news is that it is possible to improve the reading culture, but once the right strategies are embraced, isn’t it?
FYI
Did you know that alignment with paradigms of the 20th Century or those of the 21st Century greatly contributes to our attitudes, strategic direction, as well as learning perspectives?
That is why some teachers re-join school for alignment of their knowledge after our seminars (check feedback @ https://youtu.be/cMhRi4V350Y?si=VYRjE7xiZKiRxdHm). Students are able to determine their strategic direction during their empowerment process.
WELCOME for more!!!
Rgds
Mwangi Wanjumbi (MKIM)
Personal Empowerment Coach,
Speaker/Trainer 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
More @ https://t.co/oOxkhHx8Ch
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