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| Chairman Dan addressing students |
MUCSA ACADEMIC DAY REPORT
May 25th, 2012
Mission-To meet the relevant schools and interact with the teachers and students to give our view and advice on meeting academic goals or simply the purpose toward excellence.
INTRODUCTION
In efforts to arrest our continued lagging behind of our dear Mwea constituency when it comes to academic matters, MUCSA has made it an annual activity amongst its calendar of events ‘THE MUCSA ACADEMIC DAY’. This activity enables us to bridge the great gap that has emerged between those who have received or are receiving higher education and those still at secondary schools. In the eventual day, mucsa members visit various schools within the constituency and give talks as well as interacting with the schools fraternity at large. This has enabled us to reach thousands of students, teachers and parents and share with them what we have garnered from here and there and see if we can work hand in hand with them toward meeting our general goal-creating an elite Mwea.
Many of us schooled in schools outside Mwea during our secondary education and must have counted ourselves lucky then. The truth only dawns upon us during our higher education studies or way past graduation that in fact, the many of our brothers and sisters who didn’t get the chance to go to the Alliances, Kabare, Starehes to name but a few, but rather schooled at our local actually didn’t fail to make it because they couldn’t, but it’s because of hindrances that we could have assisted or simply a little advice didn’t come their way.
THE JOURNEY AND SCHOOL VISITS
“The morning chill ate deep into the meek bones of the early morning travelers. At the corner in the back seat within the matatu, an African male shuddered then gave a sigh of relief while beckoning at the others to draw the windows closed. His eyes were red evidence to an awakening from the nap he had drifted into. He drew his eyes outside only to see a cloud of dust rising from the other side of the road. A sideways poster written TEBERE caught his eyes next to a dusty mining acreage. Slowly he jogged his memory while reaching for his phone. The time read 8.06 am, they must have closed Tana river- I mean river Sagana. Quickly he scrolled for a number from his phone book and initiated a call. He was reaching the chairman of mucsa for he wanted to know how long they had fallen behind the schedule. What he did not know was that it was just the beginning of a hectic day that would drain everyone by the time the day ended, little did he anticipate it….”. This was the group that had left Nairobi and its environs at the wee hours of the morning so as to make the day a success.
Everyone assembled at Makutano town eager to start the day. This was not just a day, it was the MUCSA academic day. Many wanted to participate in the day activities but owing to the ongoing university examinations, not all could avail themselves. Besides, this was a rescheduled day as the planned visit for early May had been brought forward to allow for those schools that had opening exams and for students to settle. The day was planned to start by 8.30am and everything seemed to be going to plan. Most of those traveling from Nairobi and other far places were the first to arrive. It gave them enough time to have breakfast while awaiting their fellow comrades to arrive.
By 9.00am, almost everyone had assembled at the meeting point and we were all ready to start the day. We divided ourselves into four groups with each group having one of them as the team-leader. Our goal was to meet 12( twelve) schools. The four groups and their team-leaders were as follows;
Group 1-Rukanga Secondary school Team leader-Antony Matigari
Kandongu Secondary School
Kangai Secondary School
Mutithi Girls ( St Marys) Secondary School.
Group 2-Ngang’a Secondary School Team leader-Daniel Njuguna (Chairman)
Ndindiruku Secondary School
Group 3-Tebere Secondary School Team leader- Manasseh Kimachui
Kajiji Secondary School
Mwea Boys Secondary School
Group 4-Good Samaritan Secondary School Team leader- Simon Muthee ( Secretary General)
Thiba Secondary School
Karoti Girls Secondary School.
All Groups- Wang’uru Girl Secondary
a. GROUP 1
As all may agree group one had a long way to go in traversing almost half of Mwea thus they were the first group to leave. At Rukanga secondary school, the whole school fraternity was eagerly awaiting our visit. No sooner had the group arrived than the whole school was commissioned to appear at their assembly point. Issues arose from failure to raise fees, inability to pass despite reading amongst other things. Address of time management, proper revision skills , discipline and the role of teacher, student and parents interaction was deliberated upon.The only limiting factor was time as the two hours assigned ebbed out fast.
Due to some logistical problems, the group was not able to address Kangai secondary school so it progressed to Kandongu secondary school. This is a young upcoming school established courtesy of our patron efforts. The whole school was excited to learn that all is possible despite the challenges that people go through in school. Lack of revision materials and inability of students to buy the required textbooks were a few of the addressed issues. The importance of setting a good academic trend was na issue visited at length.
Mutithi Girls secondary school must have been wondering if we had duped them but our date with them came to pass as our group knocked their gate by 5.00 pm. Many issues were discussed here. Students contemplating dropping out of school due to a variety of reasons was an issue that arose. The continued endeavor to excel in exams and importance of working hard as a team was stressed. By the time all issues had been dealt with, everyone was happy.
This group left the last school almost at 7.00 pm and was not able to meet with the rest at Ngurubani town.
b. GROUP 2
This group was led by the chairman. It was dimmed to visit only two schools due to the transportation problem and school administration at Ngang’a Secondary school that had asked to be given more time to address some specific issues.
At Ngang’a secondary the parents had also been invited to listen to the MUCSA members’ .The members were meant to talk to the parents and students on issues of exam cancellation and proper preparation through a partnership between the students, teachers and parents. Ask Mr. Edwin Wahome of the academic triangle role in excelling. The importance of tuition and remedial for those not academically strong was given utmost attention. The school was also availed with revision papers from the Mucsa library. Parents, teachers and all present thanked mucsa and were especially thankful to our patron for enabling us reach them.
Those at Ndindiruku must have felt cheated as the sun rolled by, but our arrival sparked an eerie mood as we were eagerly awaited. The principal was not around, but the deputy saw to it that everything went on okay. Revision material was provided apart from the talks. The importance of early preparation was stressed together with the issue of the role of discipline in achieving academically. The students promised us that their goal is to attain an mss of c+ this year.
c. GROUP 3
If you have not been to Kajiji and Tebere secondary schools, then you need to make an effort to go there and see what our efforts have made. These were more of learning incidences to the group that visited.At Kajiji, the various speakers visited the issue of perfecting the art of performance through allocation efficiency of the time, teachers and reading. The challenges face d by the day schoolers were raised. Proper utilization of school time and making an effort of studying while at home was addressed. Discipline as a prerequisite to excel academically was raised and everyone was satisfied as we waved them good bye.
Tebere school is the nearing school to Kajiji an surprisingly, the students going to either of the schools faced same issues. The day schoolers had issues with time allocation and participation in groups. Discipline, revision, teachers probing and forming a habit of reading were points raised. The importance of having a plan and not reading just any-how was insisted on.
d. GROUP 4
Kamicha, Maggie, Pattoh and many others were the esteemed members of this group that began its affairs at Good Samaritan Secondary School at Mutithi town. Classes were ongoing but upon our arrival, the school dean received us happily and called off the classes. Preparing wisely for the examinations, reading continuously and proper discipline were hot topics here. Most students had questions on careers but the utmost need to excel as one dreams was stressed. Revision tips were also given as were the revision materials.
Thiba secondary was next. The school had organized a prize giving day to coincide with our visit thus we were able to reach not only the students but also the parents and the board. Our mission for Mwea education and the need for the students from Mwea aiming at excelling academically was highlighted. The school registered an improvement in the national examinations with 13 students attaining grades above c+ and two qualifying for admission by jab. Parents promised to put extra efforts to help their kids do well in school.
Work hard don’t do hard work was our theme as we visited Karoti Girls. The principal and her teachers were very pleased by our efforts and credited her school performance last year on our motivation talks last year. The school ranked position 10 in Kirinyaga , topping Mwea . It produced 11 B+s and 25 Bs. We were able to talk to the form fours and advise them on how to manage the little time they have left. Many were concerned that time was running out but by the end of the day, everyone was happy that our visit had proven that time is just a virtual set up whose direction is only dictated by what we do. Many other issues of how to combat sleep and how to come up with fruitful groups were attended.
FINDINGS
Of utmost consideration is that this was the third academic day visit to the schools and the fire of our visit was still in the air. Many schools were really hoping that we would visit them but due to unavoidable circumstances, we could not satisfy everyone. We should therefore make necessary plans to reach the schools that have not been visited
Our visits are bearing fruits. One of the school we visited last year had 3 B+s in 2010 kcse, then recorded 11 B+s in 2011 kcse. Another had not recorded even a B in kcse, yet produced 1B+ and a B last year. We might expect a mammoth sudden result of our efforts but the the truth of the matter is that we are already bearing fruits.
Many parents are now willing to assist their children pass in their national exams. As much as we argue out that insisting on just academic excellence is not a good thing, many parents judge their kids performance in school based on their performance in the national exams and many are really hoping that their kids do well in the exams. Parents showed willingness to support.
Motivation of students schooling in Mwea schools is low. Most of those we talked to still believe that passing national exams is a thing only applicable to those in national or well endowed schools. However, there are those students who showed interest in getting information and tips on how to excel in academics.
CONCLUSION
Education in Mwea has derailed compared to other constituencies in Kirinyaga county. A pick at primary school performance where the best primary school in Mwea ranked number 3 in Kirinyaga as compared to the best secondary school in Mwea which ranked position 10 in Kirinyaga is a warning sign. We have to continue striving to ensure we encourage our fellow brothers and sisters schooling in our secondary schools to emulate our good performance at primary level. Some of the issues raised last year like incomplete syllabus coverage has been addressed with a noted all round effort by all schools to finish syllabus coverage early. We must not relax. We must encourage a multi-sectoral effort to ensure the millennium development goals reach Mwea first and fast without being over-reliant on politicians.
As such the Mucsa annual academic day should be upheld so as to ensure that our academic day vision to be the leading academic elites example in the country is achieved. Only then can we sit by the riversides of our schistosomiasis infested rivers fishing while at home in Mwea not afraid of insecurity or a begging community but only the buzzing mosquitoes that we are accustomed to.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The school management boards should come up with a formula that will encompass the students, teachers and the parents so as to improve the standards of effort that will yield good performance by the schools
The school principals should create an interactive session with the students at least twice a month where students can address issues regarding their challenges in studies that normally the normal academic timetables cannot be free to address in class.
The students must take the initiative to come up with discussion groups and ensure they don’t form groups comprising of friends only, but rather members whose input into the group will show come the assessment.
The political leaders within the constituency especially the member of parliament, should set up a kitty from the constituency development fund, to facilitate purchasing of books for the schools that the support from the ministry of education doesn’t meet the desired purpose
The parents must be on the fore front in supporting their children materially, psychologically and economically. This will curb the trend of students quitting school to raise money for school materials and returning to school already too late.
FROM; APPROVED;
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN
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