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School heads have been urged to provide greater support for students participating in co-curricular activities, particularly music.
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According to Pius Mutinda, a stronger institutional support would enable more learners to showcase their talents and excel beyond the classroom.
School heads have been urged to provide greater support for students participating in co-curricular activities, particularly music, following the successful conclusion of this year’s Eastern Regional Music Festival.
Eastern Region Secretary for Primary and Secondary Schools, Pius Mutinda, said stronger institutional support would enable more learners to showcase their talents and excel beyond the classroom.
Speaking after the week-long festival at ACK Wote Township Comprehensive School in Makueni County, Mutinda said this year’s competition recorded remarkable improvement, with schools presenting more unique and creative performances than in previous years.
Mutinda, a teacher at Makueni Girls Secondary School and an experienced music trainer, commended schools from Marsabit, Makueni, Machakos, Isiolo, Kitui, Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties for raising the standard of competition. He also praised principals who accompanied their students, saying their presence served as a major source of motivation.
“I call upon school heads who are not fully supporting students in co-curricular activities, especially music, which is loved by many learners, to start doing so. There are many students who would like to participate but are unable to because their schools cannot sponsor them. Let us give our learners the best opportunities both inside and outside the classroom,” said Mutinda.
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He said the festival was conducted smoothly and concluded within the government’s stipulated timelines. The only challenge experienced was occasional delays caused by congestion of school buses transporting the large number of participants.
“We began on June 29, with the primary school festival running for four days and the secondary school competition taking three days, ending today, July 5. The primary section had more performance items, which required additional days. Winners from the regional festival will now proceed to the national competitions at Kibabii University, and we wish them success,” he said.
Mutinda also appealed for greater recognition and support for music trainers, noting that they dedicate significant time preparing learners while simultaneously handling their classroom responsibilities.
He further lauded the adjudicators for conducting a fair and credible judging process, observing that most participants were satisfied with the results.
At the same time, he expressed concern over the low participation of boys in music and dance festivals, particularly at the primary school level. He urged teachers and other education stakeholders to deliberately encourage and empower the boy child to participate in talent development programmes.
The festival was hosted at ACK Wote Township Comprehensive School, where Mutinda commended Principal Onesmus Wambua and the organising committee for their outstanding hospitality and efficient coordination. He said the school had exceeded expectations and recommended it as a suitable venue for future regional events.
By Lydia Ngoolo
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