‘Students be grateful’
I BELIEVE students realise the big role played by parents and guardians in their lives. Some would ask, “Why talk about the obvious things?” Ask parents and guardians how difficult it has become to secure places for Grade Zero, Grade One and Form One for children. Parents spend sleepless nights trying to get what they consider the best institution for their children’s education. Some go to the extent of shedding tears if they fail to get those places.
What more with e-enrolment at secondary or high schools. This requirement has traumatised many parents and guardians not only those in urban areas but to a larger extent those in the rural areas. Most of those in the latter category were caught unaware and could not even meet the deadlines. They missed the dates. It was business as usual where they started moving around carrying their children’s results looking for places yet they did not apply online.
They were shocked when they were told of what they considered a monster, registering online. The common question was, “What’s that?” But in most cases they are barking at the wrong tree. They feel the schools are to blame for introducing that at short notice, yet schools take instructions from those above them hence they cannot shoulder the blame for the chaotic situation they find themselves in.
Some parents also have a problem of trying to bulldoze their way into schools which have already fully enrolled. You find a parent who has not even enrolled his or her child in any school, whether they did not trust the child to make it at Grade Seven or for any other reason, suddenly running around because the child has scored four units. Such parents are not prepared to be told that schools are fully enrolled. But the question one would ask them is, “Who would they want replaced by their own children?”
Most of the time the motto, “First come, first serve,” is the one that works. Even if other students scored as much as 10 units they should be given the chance if they applied before and were accepted. Parents or guardians should not resort to blame game when things have not gone well for them. I am saying this on the background of the statistics given by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education about boarding schools places.
There are 24 000 boarding places country wide compared to over 300 000 pupils who wrote Grade Seven examinations. This makes it clear that all those pupils cannot be accommodated at boarding schools. Most will have to make-do with day schools. But parents love their children and want the best for them. As long as they can afford the fees charged at boarding schools they will make every effort to achieve that goal.
However, parents are a determined lot and most of them have met the requirements albeit with a struggle. What remains is for the children to show appreciation of their parents’ efforts. They should at least pay back by working hard at school so as to pass examinations. While last week I cautioned parents not to expect too much from their children, who can blame them for demanding that students should work hard and produce good results after working so hard?
Maybe it is the manner by which the parents put across their message. Remember they are encouraged to look at the positive side of issues like acknowledging even the slightest of improvement in their children’s performance. Working so much and making all efforts for children to get the best of education, students should also assist their parents or guardians by concentrating on their school work and avoid cases of indiscipline.
Students lose nothing by adhering to school rules. They should avoid falling to peer pressure and indulge in things unacceptable at school. Students should know the key purpose of being in school above everything else. This will give them direction on their daily programmes. They will know when to play and when to be serious with their studies. They should not take advantage that their parents are laying back and not constantly criticising them for not working hard.
They should not assume that attitude as a sign of weakness on their parents. Instead they should work hard, stick to the right side of the law and be the pride of their parents and schools. Doing well in all endeavours gives students rewards. Students should know that it is quite embarrassing for parents to be called to schools to solve disciplinary matters involving their children, more so, if that case leads to exclusion from school.
You know what curious neighbours will do, you know the gossip that will spread around, all to the embarrassment to your family. Surely, students you do not want that to happen to your family. Be grateful to your families. For views link up with charlesdube14058@ gmail.com or sms only to 0772113207.