- Enock Okong’o speaks to veteran educationist John Nyaribagita about the principles he believes can strengthen school leadership.
- The former Riokindo Mixed High School principal emphasises understanding teachers, learners, parents and the surrounding community.
- He also identifies safety, staff welfare, discipline, partnerships and consistent communication as important pillars of effective administration.
Meeting former Riokindo Mixed High School Principal John Nyaribagita, now a church elder with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, opens a window into wisdom, leadership, spiritual and administrative principles, all wrapped in the experience of a veteran educator.
At a time when many principals are grappling with difficult economic, social and administrative conditions in the profession, Mzee Nyaribagita has untied the knot on what he considers good ways of running a school.
In an exclusive interview in Riokindo, the veteran educationist, who headed Riokindo Mixed High School, now Riokindo Girls, said school leadership is not just about academics but also about people.
He said a principal must first understand the emotional status of both teaching and support staff. A stressed, bereaved or demotivated teacher cannot perform effectively in class. When a principal understands their emotions and supports them, performance improves.
Secondly, a principal must know the background of each student. Some are orphans, some come from poor families and others from broken homes. Knowing this, he said, helps in handling discipline and guidance with wisdom.
He also emphasised the safety of the school compound. The school must be well fenced, with safe dormitories, clean water, good lighting and a secure gate. Learning only thrives where safety is guaranteed.
Familiarity with parents and the community is another pillar. A principal should know parents and attend community functions so that the community develops a sense of ownership of the school.
He must also maintain goodwill with both the administration and the education office. Good relations with chiefs, Deputy County Commissioners, County Commissioners and education officers can help the school during challenges.
Elder Nyaribagita further noted the need to build rapport with the school sponsor, who can offer moral and spiritual support, and to know institutions that can provide financial assistance, such as NG-CDF, county bursary programmes, NGOs and well-wishers, to support needy students and school projects.
He also advised principals to establish strong Christian linkages for student support through chaplains and Christian Union programmes, especially in guiding girls, and to build a good network with health facilities for quick medical response.
Understanding staff
On staff management, he said a principal must understand teachers’ likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses in order to assign duties fairly.
He should be fatherly or motherly, loving and approachable, but without compromising discipline and standards.
Finally, he said every principal must establish clear school policies and communication so that everyone knows what is expected, while the principal must also be predictable.
Staff and students should know what the principal approves of and what he does not. Consistency, he said, brings respect and order.
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He concluded that if principals follow these principles, they can manage schools effectively even during difficult economic times.
By Enock Okong’o
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Former Riokindo Mixed High School Principal John Nyaribagita, now a Seventh-day Adventist Church elder. The veteran educationist says effective school leadership requires understanding staff and learners while maintaining discipline, safety and strong community relations. Photo: Courtesy.
