School strikes are a result of our school systems not having a workable mechanism to get feedback from the students. Teachers talk to and talk at the students while ignoring the contributions of the same. The communication is single-lane. What is missing is democracy in high school. Prefects are appointed by and are therefore the administrative agents of the school administration. Indeed, I am neither aware of the provisions in the education act nor presence in our high schools of a students' union into which they elect representatives that communicate their desires/demands to the school administration. Where there is absence of a mechanism of effective communication from the students of their problems and wishes, the best language becomes stone-throwing, arson and rampage. For it seems this is the language that will ring the most visible indicators of trouble within.
To minimise and eliminate the problem of strikes and school closures, I am suggesting that either:
1. Schools allow formation of student unions which must be recognised by the school administration, much in the same way like at the university,
or
2. Deliberately set aside a day called 'the students' parliament' much in the same way that there is a morning school assembly but where students, rather than the teachers, voice their problems freely albeit without being victimised. Such ‘parliaments’ may of necessity be attended by some members of the school board.
This way, our schools will be democratised. School strikes and closures are a result of failure by the students to communicate their wishes/frustrations to the administration. A method of catharsis (steam releasing or breathing mechanism) is needed. The prefects cannot be expected to represent the students before the administration; they lord over the students in the place of the teachers. We need to democratise our high schools. Allow the students to have a way of communicating to the teachers. Teachers should not imagine that the students are there to only listen and not respond. In our modern world, teachers should not think they own absolute access to information and knowledge while entertaining the skewed notion that the students are dim-wits (stupid). There are many sources of information in school, including clandestine pocket radios through which those students listen to Kass FM among other stations. In fact these should be legalised so that whoever can, may bring a radio. All reading and no entertainment makes Kipchumba a dull boy.
Finally, may I ask a question that may be unrelated to this but touches on our school life. Is it true that the murram (Githeri) that is cooked in most if not all of our high schools is mixed with diesel to 'cool the blood' of the students? This is certainly a disgusting thing if it ever happens. But what is that smell in githeri in high school? Tunguraas?
To minimise and eliminate the problem of strikes and school closures, I am suggesting that either:
1. Schools allow formation of student unions which must be recognised by the school administration, much in the same way like at the university,
or
2. Deliberately set aside a day called 'the students' parliament' much in the same way that there is a morning school assembly but where students, rather than the teachers, voice their problems freely albeit without being victimised. Such ‘parliaments’ may of necessity be attended by some members of the school board.
This way, our schools will be democratised. School strikes and closures are a result of failure by the students to communicate their wishes/frustrations to the administration. A method of catharsis (steam releasing or breathing mechanism) is needed. The prefects cannot be expected to represent the students before the administration; they lord over the students in the place of the teachers. We need to democratise our high schools. Allow the students to have a way of communicating to the teachers. Teachers should not imagine that the students are there to only listen and not respond. In our modern world, teachers should not think they own absolute access to information and knowledge while entertaining the skewed notion that the students are dim-wits (stupid). There are many sources of information in school, including clandestine pocket radios through which those students listen to Kass FM among other stations. In fact these should be legalised so that whoever can, may bring a radio. All reading and no entertainment makes Kipchumba a dull boy.
Finally, may I ask a question that may be unrelated to this but touches on our school life. Is it true that the murram (Githeri) that is cooked in most if not all of our high schools is mixed with diesel to 'cool the blood' of the students? This is certainly a disgusting thing if it ever happens. But what is that smell in githeri in high school? Tunguraas?
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