I desire to see a time when education, and by its means, morality, sobriety, enterprise and industry, shall become much more general than at present.
The growing unrest and indiscipline among students are matters of great concern. The 2021 school year has been a period of uncertainty for education in Kenya. There have been arson attacks in many secondary schools.
Why students are setting fire to their schools has been the topic of repeated investigations by education officials. There have been many theories on student unrest, among them the crash programme, wrong upbringing, family background, group formation in school, non-responsive nature of the school, and post-Covid-19 impact.
In 1832, Abraham Lincoln wrote in his first political announcement on March 9, 1832, that "I desire to see a time when education, and by its means, morality, sobriety, enterprise and industry, shall become much more general than at present."
This is a more challenging approach to education than one that focuses primarily on academics. Character education is a model that provides students with core values along with academic instruction.
This type of education is essential for raising the next generation. The intentional teaching of good character is particularly important in today’s society since children face many opportunities and dangers unknown to earlier generations.
Students are the most important part of the population. They are our country’s future. If they have good moral values, they will take our country to the next level. If they will have a disciplined life, they may free our country from all social monsters. Discipline will also give the students a bright future.
Good character is not formed automatically; it is developed over time through a sustained process of teaching, example, learning and practice. It is developed through character education.
Research shows that students in schools with character education programmes become more attentive, more motivated to learn, and more caring and respectful towards friends.
When schools provide a safe and supportive environment thanks to character education, students learn and behave better.
However, schools, and the broader educational activities in any society, do not function in isolation from other social structures such as the family, state and church.
Character education can and should happen as a long-term, communitywide, community-based effort involving schools, parents, social service agencies, law enforcement, churches, businesses, and other youth and family organisations.
In school, character education is not a slogan or a course but a mission that should be embedded in everyday school life. It can be approached comprehensively to include the emotional, intellectual and moral qualities of a person or group and offer multiple opportunities for students to learn about, discuss and enact positive social behaviours.
Student leadership and involvement are essential for character education to become a part of a student's beliefs and actions.
Schools can be encouraged to take a leadership role to bring the staff, parents and students together to identify and define the elements of character they want to emphasise.
They can form vital partnerships with parents and the community so that students hear a consistent message about character traits essential for success in school.
Staff can be trained on how to integrate character education into the life and culture of the school and offer opportunities to school leaders, teachers, parents and community partners to model exemplary character traits and social behaviours.
This will help the students develop a sense of ownership and should help to improve student behaviour.
Communications officer, Pharmacy and Poisons Board
