Parents should adequately prepare their children joining Form One this year to cope with the numerous challenges as they join High School.
The Cabinet Secretary of Education Ezekiel Machogu, recently released the 2024 Form One Placements at Lenana School in Nairobi. He also announced that the newcomers should start reporting to secondary schools in January 15, 2024.
In actual sense, while placing newbies in secondary schools, mandarins at the Ministry of Education should consider factors such as merit, inclusion, equity, choice, affirmative action, gender balance, quota system, distance, available space, et cetera.
Somehow, in the 2024 Form One Placements, 9% of the learners failed to get space in their schools of choice. While addressing the nation in the full glare of cameras, the Cabinet Secretary of Education intimated that some students missed to join their dream schools due to shortage space in these 7 counties: Nairobi, Kwale, Narok, Kilifi, Mombasa, Kajiado and Isiolo.
Somewhat, the Form One Placements took place when the outcome of an audit into KCPE results irregularities was still obscure. The exercise went on. Yet, there were heartfelt concerns over pending court cases after some parents gathered courage to poke holes on the 2023 KCPE outcomes. Similarly, some parents and children were crest-fallen after missing the schools they thought of. More so, top schools.
Indeed, missing the dream school is painful. I can relate. Through it all, pantheon of sages said in substance. When life gives you lemons, you do not ask for oranges. Instead, you make lemonade. Moreover, those who failed to hit or meet their targets in 2024 Form One Placements should know: Places do not make people, but people make places. When builders were setting up structures in crème de la crème schools, they did not do so on a land lush with many acres of diamond. The Ivy League schools were not constructed using bricks made of gold and diamond. Instead, the construction took place on average land using normal building materials. Then, afterwards, students streamed in to make those schools great.
Likewise, America did not make America, but Americans made America. Venerable American giants like Abraham Lincoln, Oprah Winfrey, Rosa Parks, Franklin D. Roosevelt, J.F. Kennedy, Martin Luther king, Barrack Obama, and many more, made America to cut an imperishable niche in the annals of world history. Therefore, it is wrong to think that only places make people great. Actually, glory and greatness emanates from inside, not outside. Seeds of greatness are within us. They can manifest anywhere and everywhere. A lizard in Africa cannot be a crocodile in America.
Perhaps, in retrospect, parents who look disillusioned because their children missed their dream schools should press pause button. Accept the situation. Then, help their children understand that they can blossom in any place. Like Joseph son of Jacob, they can blossom anywhere and everywhere. Students can climb, reach and touch the crest of great achievement. They can attain peak performance in any place, not just in palace.
Maybe, in case you have a tinge of doubt, then think of a sedulous student called Josphat Mwangi Kamau. He joined Mioro Day Secondary School in Murang’a County with 278 out of 500 marks. Great of all, he had the wild will to win. Then, wisps of wind blew beneath his wings. When he sat for KCSE in 2018, he scooped an A- (minus). The then Cabinet Secretary of Education Ambassador Amina Mohamed lauded Josephat as the most improved student in the KCSE 2018. This brilliant student matriculated into the University of Nairobi to wrestle with Engineering.
No wonder, I am contending correctly. With the right mindset. Students can shine like stars in any school. What is important is to understand that attitude (mindset plus beliefs) happen to be the foundation of success. Consider this classic case. The Calgary Towers stands at 190.8 metres. The total weight of the tower is 10,884 tons. Of which 6,349 tons is below the ground. It is approximately 60 %. What is the meaning of this? Some of the biggest buildings that grace this globe have the strongest foundations. Just as the big buildings that meet and greet the sapphire skies anchor on firm foundations, so is success in any sphere of life. Attitude is the foundation of success. Zig Ziglar put it aptly, “It is your attitude, not aptitude that determines your altitude.” Aptitude on the other hand, is talent, or the natural ability to do things. Altitude in this context is the height worth attainment.
Before I conclude. This is the gist of the matter. Newbies poised to join high school should be prepared to start strong. Begin. Learn. Win. They should be excited about it. Accept and explore the new level. They should think about success. Adhere to rules and regulations. Choose friends wisely. Overcome negative peer pressure. Cultivate useful study skills. Then they should know. New levels, new devils. Meaning, challenges in high schools are not like the ones in primary school.
Finally, Pre-Form Ones should have ample preparation for the exhilarating high school experience. Without forgetting that there will be challenges like possible change of diet, change of weather, culture shock, many subjects, large classes and different style(s) of teaching. There will be a challenge in handling pocket money. There will be no multiple-choice exams.
The writer rolls out Form One Plug-in Programmes in secondary schools. He addresses Form One students and Parents during Orientation/Induction Day. He can be reached on: vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
-By Victor Ochieng’
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