Ugh! Woe has betided some schools. Some boarding schools across the country are experiencing wild wave of unrest leading to loss of life and wanton destruction of school property. Therefore, in this sad season, educators should remain alert and vigilant.
For unrest is a feeling of disturbance and dissatisfaction in people. Unrest in any school may manifest as disaster: Disrupting teaching and learning process. For instance, there are occasional flash floods that sweep schools without a tad of mercy. There are sad fire incidences that raze down schools without a tinge of clemency. Disaster can strike anywhere anytime.
Meaning, no school is immune to cataclysmic occurrences. No wonder, before things go south, it is important to be careful and cautious. For fore-warned is fore-armed. Principals should read and implement every ambit of raft of recommendations spelt out in the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya (2008).
Ideally, disasters manifest as accidents, explosions in science laboratories, invasion by wild animals or armed people and outbreak of contagious disease. Disaster can be breakdown of essential services such as water, transport and electricity. Then, we have spate of unrest and strikes.
Many a time, it is not easy to fight and defeat disasters. Especially the ones beyond human comprehension and control. Albeit, Principals should explore practical ways of mitigating catastrophes through disaster preparedness, disaster relief and disaster recovery. Of no to inferno, schools should focus on fire prevention, fire safety and fire eradication.
Back to the oeuvre of the aforementioned safety manual, schools should keep students posted on escape routes whenever fire shows ire. Dormitories should be built in strict adherence to security and safety standards. Dormitories should be salubrious and properly ventilated. Spaces between beds should be at least 1.2 metres. Corridors or pathway spaces should not be less than 2 metres.
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Sharing of beds is utterly wrong because it promotes aberrant behaviour. So, powers-that-be should strive to tie admissions to bed capacities at all times. It is dangerous to lock dormitory doors when learners are inside. Conversely, dormitories should be locked at all times when learners are elsewhere.
Every dormitory should have a door at each end, and an additional clearly labeled emergency exit at the middle. Fire extinguishing equipment should be placed at each exit. With fire alarms fitted at easily accessible points.
Likewise, there should be fire assembly points where students can gather as school authorities take roll call in morbid moments. Advisedly, schools should maintain well-equipped emergency aid kits; fully-furnished with whistles, fire extinguishers and basic equipment for first aid. There should be regular drills. Preferably every term. On evacuation procedures for fires and accidents. It is important to focus on fire prevention measures.
For instance, the kitchen should be located at the right place. There should be safety of electric cables. Somewhat, for the sake of holistic safety, it is incumbent upon the government to design and implement compulsory school safety training course for principals, teachers, students and staff.
Schools should employ enough security guards with basic training in disaster management and mitigation. Schools should focus on stringent measures to curb bullying and conflict among students and staff.
Moreover, classrooms should be properly lit and ventilated. The size of buildings should adhere to the specifications of the Ministry of Education (MoE). Classrooms should accommodate number of learners in line with the provisions of the MoE circular on Health and Safety Standards in Educational Institutions (2021). The doorways should be adequate for emergency purposes, open outwards, and should not be locked from outside at any time when learners are on board.
For storeyed buildings, the stairways should be wide enough and located at both ends of the building without obstructions. The construction of stairways should accommodate learners with special needs. Handrails in the stairs should be strong and firmly fixed.
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Corridors should be well-lit and ventilated. Schools should deal firmly with the menace of drug abuse, which impairs irresolute judgement of most students; turning them into arsonists. Schools should install CCTV cameras for purposes of surveillance and vigilance. Ubiquity of teachers in charge of boarding is important. Schools should teach peaceful ways of resolving conflict in Life Skills Education.
Then, both students and staff should be trained on school safety. Again, teens love food. Therefore, give them good food while focusing on both quality and quantity. In turn, in third term when there are no inter-school activities, remember to stage some internal creative activities to assist the teens expend excess energies.
Select, train and induct a strong Student Council. Enforce school rules and regulations with tact and diplomacy. The Discipline Committee should handle discipline cases judiciously and justly without oiling cogs of corruption.
Ostensibly, John C. Maxwell told us; everything rises and falls on leadership. No wonder, Principals should fix leadership lapses in schools. Principals should know leadership rises and falls on communication. Then, they should arouse sense of responsibility (response and ability) in all and sundry.
Principals and deputies should dodge dictatorship, and give room to guided democracy in schools. Embrace dialogue and “open-door policy”. Get feedback and address issues raised by both staff and students. Practise soft power and flexibility as a soft skill. Ensure there is peaceful co-existence among all stakeholders.
Again, Principals should beware of meddlesome and troublesome stakeholders in some schools. Principals should manage change in new stations with admirable acumen. Work well with the community. Do away with bad blood in administration.
Do not balkanise staff through “divide-and-rule”. Handle resistance with discretion and wisdom. Train and trade staff. Construct and re-construct teams. Organise and re-organise departments. Determine and discern enemies within.
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For in Gem, where I was born and brought up, our venerable elders say, the hyena can only enter the compound using the hole created by the family dog. Above all, pray, as you remain vigilant: to detect and uproot seeds of discord or division. In Matthew 13:25, we read, “But while men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.”
Furthermore, Principals should strike beautiful balance in their leadership style. I recommend a page-turner titled The Leader Who Had No Title, where Robin Sharma posits that leaders should be tough, but tender. Courageous, but compassionate. Firm, but fair. Strong, but sincere.
Consequently, combination of comely leadership approaches will wipe reproach. Remember, leadership style depends on situation at hand. Create open sessions where students can air their grievances without victimisation.
Organise well-thought-out activities to assist students steam-off, love school, gain joy and enjoy learning. Explore creative activities that can arouse sense of pride and belonging in learners about their school. With that, they will not vandalise school property when the push comes to a shove.
Finally, we should never forget raft of recommendations in The 2001 Naomi Wangai Report whose thesis was this: Students’ Discipline and Unrest in Secondary Schools. The report established – shedloads of “mock” exams served to Form Four candidates as they prepare to sit and write KCSE exams, can cause chaos.
More so, when the purpose of exam is not well-thought-out. Therefore, explain to Form Four candidates the reason for running an examination system as one of the best academic practices after completion of syllabus. Likewise, it is high time school re-look into the relevance of opener exams that caused unrest in some schools at onset of this term.
Above all, force, threats and intimidations may not work well in these times and climes. More so, among these Gen Zs. Advisedly, engage impactful speakers with enough expertise and experience. Strengthen the psycho-social and spiritual programmes.
Teacher-counsellors to be proactive to imbue students with hope and help. As they address the attitude of finitude, hebetude and lassitude. Empower Peer Counsellors. Work closely with the church through chaplains. Then, parental engagement and empowerment is important because discipline begins at home.
By Victor Ochieng’
Victor Ochieng’ rolls out talks and training services in schools. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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