Dear reader, in a school set up, there are several stakeholders. For instance, there are students, parents, teachers, members of BoM, sponsors, service-providers, et cetera. Some of these stakeholders were well-represented on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, when I was a guest speaker in the Form 4 parents’ meeting at Mary Leakey Girls School in Kiambu County.
Ostensibly, for schools to access success, stakeholders should join hands. Stakeholders should work and walk together. Stakeholders should attain unity of purpose. Stakeholders should form a dream team. For in The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork, John C. Maxwell argued, for the dream to work, there must be teamwork. It is Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM).
Actually, when I sit to ideate, and write about joint effort in schools, the winsome wisdom of Solomon races through my mortal mind. In Proverbs 14:4, the Message version of the Bible reads, “No oxen in the stable, no crops. But you need a strong ox for a large harvest.”
Advisedly, this proverb teaches: Growth, success, breakthrough, and productivity, are part of the process. The sacred scripture reminds us about the essence of responsibility and deliberate effort. In ancient farming practices, oxen were essential for plowing vast tracts of land. The farmer that possessed oxen, produced great harvest. However, keeping oxen also meant extra work. Such as feeding and maintaining them. Cleaning the stable.
Therefore, a clean stable without oxen looks neat and trouble-free, but in such instances there will be no great harvest. Meaning, we cannot expect great results without accepting work, mess, paying the price, or sacrifice. Once we become equally-yoked on the ox-drawn plough, no looking back. As part of joint effort, the two hands should be busy pulling the plough. The focus is important. In Luke 9:62, Jesus of Nazareth said, no one who puts his hands on the plow and looks back.
Again, in the African context, there are people who used oxen to till the land. Oxen would be equally-yoked in an ox-drawn-plough. An ox is a bull that has been castrated. Meaning, it is an animal whose appetites are controlled; making it disciplined. The wise man mentions, with the strength of an ox, there is abundant harvest. Meaning, concerted effort, discipline and diligence; leads to plenty of produce. It is work. Not luck. Broadly, productivity abuts on joint effort. Success calls for real responsibility.
In that regard, in a school set up, we expect parents, students, teachers, administration, management and church or sponsors to be diligent, deliberate and intentional in good deeds that can boost academic performance. For instance, parents or guardians should support school programmes and projects. Parents should pay school fees at the right time. Parents should partner with God to parent their children with passion and purpose. Parents should track academic performance of their children. Parents’ representatives should mobilise other parents to support school programmes and projects.
Likewise, teachers should be devoted in teaching and mentorship of students. Teachers should focus on best academic practices that lead to peerless performance. Teachers should embrace team teaching and horizontal teaching. Teachers should also invite subject experts and examiners to dot the I’s and cross the T’s. Or to tighten both big and small bolts. Teachers should demonstrate teamwork in school.
Additionally, school administrators should foster teamwork in school. Then, Principals and deputies should be leaders par excellence. John C. Maxwell argues that everything rises and falls on leadership. Leadership rises and falls on communication. Leadership is influence. Nothing more. Nothing less. Close to administration, is management. It is incumbent upon the BoM to manage schools with admirable acumen. The sponsors or Church should spear-head spiritual nourishment by presiding over psycho-social and spiritual programmes for both staff and students.
Consequently, it is important that students become disciplined and diligent. For Solomon reminds us in Proverbs 12:1 that whoever loves discipline loves knowledge. Likewise, Jim Rohn puts it aptly, discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments. As a scribe, I describe discipline as the disciple following the line. For in any institution, there is always a line drawn that students must toe. Students should focus on useful study skills. Students should focus on riveting review, revision and repetitive programmes put in place upon completion of syllabus. More importantly, as part of joint effort, students should be prepared to reap great harvest of what they sow through collaborative learning or effective group discussions.
Ideally, after KCSE, the KUCCPS, has a plausible plan for every Form Four candidate once they sit and write KCSE exams. Form Four candidates that score mean grade of C+ (plus) and above in KCSE, qualify for many degree courses offered in both public and private universities. Form Four candidates that score mean grades of C (plain) and above in KCSE, qualify for manifold diploma course in colleges. Form Four candidates that score mean grades of D (plain) and above in KCSE, qualify for craft certificate courses offered in colleges too. Form Four candidates that score mean grades of E in KCSE qualify for artisan certificate courses offered in colleges also.
Therefore, KUCCPS has a plausible plan for every Form Four candidate. So, we cannot write-off any Form Four candidate because of the grades garnered in KCSE. Albeit, our desire is that they score more in KCSE. For mean grades they scoop will avail to them different opportunities after high school as aforesaid. For all of them desire to get to the tip of the top.
Somehow, anyone that yearns to access the highest floor of a tall building has two options: Either to use a lift or a staircase. In case life gives someone the gift of a lift, then, ascension will be easier. Conversely, in case, someone uses a staircase, s/he will expend more energy, and spend more time. No wonder, we should urge every Form Four candidate to maximise opportunities by going for top grades in KCSE. For that is what will position them to see beyond the sea. Or access oodles of scholarship opportunities up for grabs in Kenya, and beyond borders.
Then, permit me to dote on this anecdote as my final charge on the girl child. When Barrack Obama Jr. had retired as the 44th President of the United States (POTUS), one twilight, before night came, they went to a certain hotel. Maybe, as a couple, to escort the sun to sunset because it had turned brown ready to go down. Maybe, as a couple, they went there for a tour of hearts. Or for home-improvement meeting.
So, as they sat quietly, the owner of the hotel sauntered closer, and asked for permission to speak to Michelle. So, Michelle excused herself. Upon coming back, Obama wanted to know what the owner of the hotel was telling Michelle. So, Michelle said, when she was ripe for love, she dated that hotel owner. So, Obama told Michelle, in case fortunate twist of fate made her the wife of that hotel owner, she would be the owner of the hotel. But Michelle responded with a resounding no. She said, in case the hotel owner married her, the hotel owner would have been a POTUS, too.
What a response! Meaning, Michelle as she would put it in her heroic book Becoming, existing in tripartite parts — Becoming Me, Becoming Us, and Becoming More — she knew what she wanted. So, through joint effort, somewhat, she played a pivotal role in the making and becoming of Obama. Therefore, no girl should sit back. Or stand back. Or think erroneously, that things will just fall in place when she gets married to a successful man.
READ ALSO: Learning in fear: Kenya’s recurring school fire nightmare
In Where Girls Go Wrong, Joe Mwangi talks of a teacher getting into a class crowded by boys and girls. Then asks James what he wants to be. James says he wants to be wealthy. But when he asks Jane what she wants to be, Jane responds that she wants to be James wife. Therefore, Joe Mwangi argues, it is where girls go wrong. How? When they think that they should play the second fiddle in life. Yet, wealth is always as a result of the commonwealth. It is like a bow and an arrow. In the art of archery, both bow and arrow needs each other.
By Victor Ochieng’
Victor Ochieng’ is a speaker and consultant. 0704420232
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
