My best wishes and prayers to all candidates writing their examinations this year. We wish you the best young warriors, go forth and conquer the world.
As we wind up the last KCPE exam and other national examinations, it is time for us, the adults in the room, to reflect on a number of issues that may help a lot when it comes to shaping the overall success not only of our candidates but the country as a holistic entity.
Often we lack good role models for our young ones as we put pressure on them to be good and upright yet our actions are way off the mark.
The average Kenyan adult of the 21st century has become a lot of things. The most common trait that worries me a lot is the propensity to complain bitterly at the slightest whiff of discomfort, even in circumstances where the discomfort is meant to bring a better and bigger good to the common table.
Picture the scenario where our national examination body is coming up with some innovations to secure the assessment process; this is the process that is going to supply our next crop of doctors, engineers, teachers, parents, pilots you name it, they are all in here.
It behooves us to take a deep breath and take along some of these innovations such as the double sessions and see what works and what can be tweaked for the benefit of the Kenyan child.
Every new idea requires a proof of concept stage, we need to run along with it and see how it can be shaped. Throwing complaints in advance about something entirely new is not good role modelling to the upcoming professionals—our candidates.
To the parents, please stop pushing your young children over the edge. Stop living your unaccomplished dreams, either as an individual or a community, through your children. It hurts a lot when you keep reminding the young candidates how you sold all your livestock and how you worked overtime to put them through school.
This is usually done in good faith but it ends up placing a heavy burden on the candidate by making them assume the role of the saviour of the family or community through good grades and whatever else is perceived to come along with this package.
While the intentions may be innocent and noble, the repercussions are gross. At a very tender age, the candidate will be subjected to the psychological turmoil of carrying a huge burden on their shoulders. This is very wrong, let children be children, let children enjoy their childhood and the joys of making mistakes as they grow and learn.
Take your parental duties in your stride and always remember you are not doing your children a favour and neither should you expect a return on investment, it is your parental responsibility period. I know it’s a bit hard please take a glass of water and read it again, it is what it is.
And to you candidates out there, remember to uphold values, virtues, and honour. What I mean is, please earn your honest grades without the temptation to take shortcuts or be induced to use any other unscrupulous means to game the assessment system.
Forget about what the crooked adults are telling you, the world out there rewards an honest day’s work more than the spoils of dishonesty or crime. All grades have a path through which you can curve your career, talents and life and make something substantial out of the brow of your sweat.
Don’t live your life with a guilty stain plastered all over your conscience following you through life like a heavy metal chain holding you down every time you want to take off.
Follow the rules and apply yourself, this will get you there, some earlier than others but always remember this is not a race against your friends, it is a race against your former versions, make yourself better and be different, and don’t indulge in cheating during examination just do your thing. It will be well and you will eventually come through.
This narrative cannot be complete without mentioning the critical component in this whole setup, the government of the day. Assessment processes are critical transitional and placement tasks that shape the developmental and economic agenda of this country by erecting strong generational change pillars in place.
This process is critical, and resource intensive. While all players are on the field playing their crucial parts, the government should ensure steady funding and support to the national examination body to facilitate the cogs that make all the wheels turn in a timely and efficient manner.
Wherever we are, whatever office we occupy let us always remember that all these candidates are our children, and their dreams will propel our collective aspirations as Kenyans.
Make decisions that will make their lives better and support our collective interests as a united country. We are one strong 254 family, we have no other place to call home, play your part, and be patriotic about it. God bless you, God bless Kenya.
