BY VICTOR OCHIENG’
The long unexpected school break caused by Covid-19 contagion in 2020 affected the school calendar to a great extent.
But we thank God that when Form Fours reported back to school in October 2020 after the long stasis from school, teachers offered them psycho-social and spiritual support. That is how they tried to bring their mortal minds back to school.
We also cruised counties across the country to roll out programmes in schools dubbed Adjust, Adapt and Advance. This labour of love helped many learners to bounce back better.
Looking at things critically, it is the Form Twos highly bear the brunt. They are the ones that are going to be hit hard by the ripple effects of Covid-19 crisis. Some of them don’t understand how they will sit KCSE in November/December 2022.
This reorganisation of the school calendar by the mandarins at the Ministry of Education (MoE) has thrown the Form Two class into a miasma of confusion. As someone who speaks a lot to students, I feel for them.
It is not going to be easy for Form Twos. So, when you see them behaving in a weird manner, just try to understand them. The powers-that-be in schools must not cry, but try their best to help these adolescents cope with this elephant in the room.
It is crystal clear. That in 2022, secondary schools are going to have a crush programme. The current Form Threes will sit KCSE in March 2022. Then, Form Twos will follow the queue at the tail-end of the year.
Generally, when schools officially commission a candidate class, the game ball changes completely. Because good things like gold go through intense pressure, schools that desire good grades also pile plenty of pressure on Form Fours.
When the bell blares to mark the homestretch, teachers rush to complete the syllabus. Teachers put a lot of premium on remedial lessons. Subject experts are cordially invited to polish pale parts. A lot of exams are served like food. Candidates are compelled to go the extra mile.
For Form Twos, their case is different. In their age, they are caught up in what the psychologist Erick Erickson termed as Identity Crisis. During this stage, adolescents try to integrate ideas of themselves and what others think about them.
At this critical stage, they form their self-image and endure the task of resolving the crisis of their basic ego identity. The crisis is fully hinged on one’s progress through previous developmental stages. It focuses more on issues such as trust, autonomy, affirmation and initiative.
Apart from Identity Crisis, there is also the Identity Moratorium. It is another bone-chilling challenge that tweens and teens wrestle with.
But what is Identity Moratorium? It is what inspired me to pen this piece. In other words, it is the central plank of this write-up. When you conceptualise it, you will know how to handle young people.
Identity Moratorium is one step in the process of finding a sense of self. It is a stage in life where young people start to jolt into consciousness. They begin to know who they are. During this period, people explore and experiment on many things.
It is the quest for self-knowledge and self-awareness. After all, there are three hard things – steel, diamond and knowing oneself. Knowing others is enlightenment, but knowing oneself is wisdom.
Identity Moratorium explains why without proper guidance, some slide and fall into moral morass. Without help and hope, some take the wrong vector in life. They indulge in drug abuse or engage in sinful sexual behaviour.
For us to help these teens cope up with the deep-seated identity issues, we must leg up guidance at home, school and sacred centres they often visit to worship Deity.
Schools closed for one week mid-term hiatus. A wise parent should have come up with a plausible plan on how to engage them. That cannot happen if the parent succumbs to the deadly disease called TB – Too Busy. Remote parenting will only make the wound to fester faster.
At home, it is high time parents ascend to their parental roles with bizarre zeal zest. They must create quality time to talk to their children by engaging them in candid conversations.
It behooves schools to raise the game in matters Guidance and Counselling. The top brass in schools should strengthen Guidance and Counselling (G and C) Departments. The teachers in charge should be equipped with basic helping skills in counselling.
G & C departments should decentralise their roles by scouting for strong students who can form formidable dream team of Peer Counsellors. In highly populated schools, Peer Counsellors who are well-trained can attend to fellow students who are struggling with psychological issues.
Schools should open their gates for people out there who can visit them and add value and lustre. They should not stop inviting guest speakers to conduct incisive counselling sessions.
Schools must strike strong partnerships with the church and sponsors. Some of the challenges that young people face, require pious approach. Prayers, preaching and teaching of the Word of God, can salvage a ship at the cusp of collapse. By and large, we may lose battles, but with God, we will win the war.
The school administration should encourage devotional programmes in the school. Like Sunday services. Allow religious groups to gather together. Encourage weekend challenges, and get quality speakers to address sensitive issues with a spiritual bent.
The Writer rolls out Motivational Pep Talks in Schools. vochieng.90@gmail.com.
