In West Pokot County, a Grade Four pupil’s struggle with poverty and absenteeism has turned into a story of hope after a teacher’s generosity changed the course of his education. At Tampalal Primary School, CRE teacher Silas Kwemoi Kibore stepped in to support young Fabian Rotich, whose challenges at home had left him vulnerable to dropping out, proving how much a single act of kindness can transform a child’s future
A Grade Four learner at Tampalal Primary School in West Pokot County has found renewed hope in education after a teacher stepped in to rescue him from challenges that had been pushing him towards dropping out.
Mr. Silas Kwemoi Kibore, a CRE teacher at the school, noticed that his pupil, Fabian Rotich, was struggling with absenteeism, malnutrition, lack of writing materials, and clothing difficulties. Fabian often appeared withdrawn, unhappy, and unable to keep up with his classmates.
After an extensive conversation with Fabian, Kibore established that the learner needed to be rescued from the many challenges weighing him down at home. He shared the boy’s story with fellow members of staff, who contributed a small amount of money to help. Kibore himself gave the lion’s share of the contribution, which was used to buy Fabian a school uniform, a pair of shoes and writing materials.
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Since then, Fabian’s absenteeism has significantly reduced and he now interacts well with his classmates. He has also shown improvement in his classwork, with teachers noting a visible boost in his self-esteem.
“As a CRE teacher, I urge all teachers in the school to understand their learners to assist and advise them accordingly. This will assist the learners to be in school uninterrupted,” said Kibore.
Education stakeholders say Fabian’s turnaround is a reminder of how much a teacher’s attentiveness can determine whether a struggling child stays in school. A teacher’s generosity, they note, is often one of the deciding factors in retaining a child in continuous learning, particularly in areas where families face economic hardship.
Call for Teacher Empathy in Classrooms
Teachers have been urged to take extra time to understand their learners’ backgrounds, including the social and economic circumstances of the families they come from.
In some cases, a learner may appear fine at the start of a lesson but be overcome by drowsiness midway through class as a result of hunger. Education officials say such situations call for teachers to look beyond classroom performance and pay closer attention to the wellbeing of every learner.
Fabian Rotich remains a beneficiary of Kibore’s intervention and continues to attend Tampalal Primary School in West Pokot County, where his case has been cited as an example of the difference individual teacher initiative can make in keeping vulnerable children in school.
By Martin Ruto
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