Many teachers carry a heavy weight in their hearts simply because they were posted to what others sneer at as “small schools.” These are the institutions some ridicule as “third-world schools,” tucked deep in the villages, far from the tarmac, often invisible to national headlines and the Ministry’s radar. Here, the infrastructure is basic, the resources are stretched, and the learners come from humble backgrounds. In such settings, some teachers begin to feel as though they have been forgotten by the system, left out of opportunities, or even punished. If that’s you, take heart. There is a divine purpose for your posting. You are not where you are by mistake. God assigned you there intentionally. So cheer up. Love those children. Teach them from the bottom of your heart. Give them your best. Pour yourself out. Heaven is watching.
God sees your labour.
He sees the long nights you spend preparing lessons with outdated textbooks and tired pens. He considers the silent sacrifices you make – skipping lunch so that a needy student can eat, using your own salary to buy chalk, or staying behind to clean a dusty staffroom after others have left. He sees how you walk to school on muddy roads, how you teach under leaking roofs, and how you wear many hats – teacher, counsellor, mentor, nurse, parent. In the stillness of the staffroom or in the chaos of a Form Four class on a hot afternoon, God is there. Watching and honouring your effort.
There are no cameras to document your actions. No national recognition. No celebratory headlines. Yet your impact is eternal. Even when your efforts are buried under the weight of disinterest or forgotten in exam statistics, God remembers. When others forget to say “thank you,” when students seem indifferent, when parents complain more than they appreciate, God still sees. And He values your service.
Some teachers have cried in secret, especially after being transferred from larger schools to sub-county schools with fewer facilities and lower grades. You may have felt like you were being punished. But sometimes what feels like a demotion is actually a divine assignment. God doesn’t post you based on the size of the school – He places you where your light is needed. Perhaps that single mother’s child needed a mentor. Perhaps that boy with behavioural issues needed your patience. Possibly, your presence is the only thing standing between a child and dropping out of school. God saw it ahead of time. That’s why He sent you.
You may not have a smart board or high-speed internet, but you have something greater – heart. Compassion. Integrity. And those are more powerful than any resource. The great teachers who shaped destinies didn’t always work in palatial schools – they taught in ordinary spaces, with extraordinary dedication.
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Hebrews 6:10 offers comfort and assurance: “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” This verse is your anchor. God is not unjust. He doesn’t overlook your labour. He doesn’t ignore your love. The hours you spend encouraging that struggling learner, the words of hope you speak to that discouraged Form Three boy, the patience you extend to that Form One girl battling self-esteem issues – all of that counts in the courts of heaven. Nothing is wasted.
It is easy to believe the lie that you must be seen by people to be valuable. But the truth is, some of the most meaningful work happens in hidden places. The flower does not bloom for applause – it blooms because that’s its nature. Likewise, teach not for recognition, but from conviction. You are not just producing exam results. You are nurturing souls, shaping destinies, and mending dreams. The school may be small, but your calling is great.
Do not let the label of “small school” make you think your work is small. Greatness is not about size – it’s about impact. And impact often begins with one learner, one class, one moment of belief. That girl you coached in essay writing might become a published author. That boy you encouraged in Maths might become an engineer. Your words, your time, your presence – they are seeds. And while you may not always see the harvest, rest assured: it will come. Some seeds take longer to sprout, but they do grow.
Sometimes, the reward comes years later, when a former student walks back through the school gate in a suit, simply to say “thank you.” Other times, the reward is quieter – a peaceful night’s sleep, the joy of knowing you gave your best, or the smile of a child who finally gets it. And sometimes, the reward isn’t in this life. But eternity holds the memory. Heaven records every act of kindness, every selfless gesture, every decision to show up even when you didn’t feel like it.
If today you feel weary, overlooked, or forgotten, remember this: God is watching. He is not a distant observer. He is an active witness to your journey. He stands beside you in that overcrowded classroom, walks with you to the market to buy lab materials out of your own pocket, and strengthens you in those moments when discouragement creeps in. You are not alone.
So cheer up, teacher. You may be in a “small school,” but you are doing big work. You are changing lives in ways the world may never fully understand. Keep teaching with heart. Keep showing up. Keep believing in your learners, even when they don’t believe in themselves. Keep loving the unlovable. Keep lighting candles in dark corners.
God sees your labour. And that is more than enough.
By Ashford Kimani
Ashford Kimani teaches English and Literature in Gatundu North Sub County and serves as Dean of Studies.
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