Teachers reject my Matiang’i inspired changes

El Nino arrived a few minutes to 8, followed by Xtash. Just before the actual parade time, two more teachers arrived. Perpetual, commonly known as Pere, and Electina. El Nino and I addressed the pupils on parade and released them to go to their classes. ILLUSTRATION| JOHN NYAGAH

What you need to know:

  • El Nino arrived a few minutes to 8, followed by Xtash. Just before the actual parade time, two more teachers arrived. Perpetual, commonly known as Pere, and Electina. El Nino and I addressed the pupils on parade and released them to go to their classes.

  • I called for a staff meeting before anyone went to class.

  • “Ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to know that it is a new dawn,” I started. “There is a new broom in this school and at the national level in education in Kenya.”

Having come up with state of the art and transformative Daraja Mbili Primary School’s Vision, Mission and Motto, it was time to get to work. But as I rode to school early last Monday, my thought-led thinking told me that I needed more than a vision for the

school. Something inside me told me that I also needed a vision of my own.

“Organisational success and personal satisfaction happens when that organisation’s vision is in line with your personal vision and goals,” I remember reading somewhere, although I can’t remember where.

I actually think I heard someone say these words since the books I read can never have that. So that morning I tasked myself to have a personal vision that would ensure that I drive the school’s vision.

The previous day, at Juma’s place, I had watched on TV as the new Minister for Education, Dr Fred Matiang’i, visited schools unexpectedly. I watched as he found school’s unprepared, and how headmasters’ lacked explanations to simple questions. And that got me thinking, and I asked myself, “What if Dr Matiang’i visited our school?”

I was certain he would find a few mistakes here and there. But that would be because I was still new in the school and the fact that Mr Sande left this school in such a mess. It will take long to return the school on the straight and narrow.

It had surprised me to see some HM’s who had been in schools for long unable to answer simple questions. That would never happen to me. And that is how I settled on my vision to: “What if Matiang’i visited our school today?”

The answer to that became my daily working principle.

I vowed that should Matiang’i visit our school, he would find it in such order that he would direct that my overdue promotion that some enemy of development at TSC had been sitting on be implemented.

That Monday, I arrived before everyone else, and started monitoring as the pupils strolled in leisurely. Immediately, I called for an urgent school parade where I issued cleaning instructions, and ordered the gates closed. All late comers would be expected to

kneel down at the school gate as they waited for me to give further instructions.

El Nino arrived a few minutes to 8, followed by Xtash. Just before the actual parade time, two more teachers arrived. Perpetual, commonly known as Pere, and Electina. El Nino and I addressed the pupils on parade and released them to go to their classes.

I called for a staff meeting before anyone went to class.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like you to know that it is a new dawn,” I started. “There is a new broom in this school and at the national level in education in Kenya.”

“As you know, I am Matiang’i’s representative in this school and when you go to class, you are Matiang’i’s representatives.”

I read out a list of things I expected to change in the school. I had expected them to oppose what I was saying so that I could convince them through intellectual reasoning. But these were intellectual light weights and they merely accepted what I said, may be because they understood or that they planned not to follow any. Until I mentioned about the black book.

“Mr headmaster,” interjected El Nino. “You may already have heard of how early I arrive in school, and I agree with you about time being money,” he started.

“That is the spirit El Nino, I am happy that you agree with me that the black book will help us be more responsible on time.”

“I actually don’t agree with you,” he interrupted me. “I actually disagree with this idea of  black book.”

“El Nino you are right,” said Pere. “We are not school children.”

GOOD REASONS

“People,” I said. “Let us give good reasons for everything we say.” I went on. “Saying that you are not children does not help us at all. Give me concrete reasons or just tell me you can’t wake up early.”

“Mr headmaster, everyone knows that I have no problem waking up and coming here early, so I see no value this black book will add. If anything, it will make me start coming to school at 8am like everyone else.”

“Just to clarify El Nino, I expect everyone to be in school before 7.40am,” I said.

No one said a thing. We then made changes to the time table. I took up math and English in Class Seven, my intention being to start preparing them early.

“Let us all be in class during lesson time,” I said. “This staffroom will only be a recreational centre. We will only meet here for staff meetings, tea and lunch. The rest of the time I need to see everyone in class.” 

“What if I don’t have a lesson?” asked Pere.

“Since we are very few in this school, that should be rare but in case it happens, please find an empty class and work from there,” I said with finality.

I came in on Wednesday at 8.05 am and was happy to note that the black book had been signed by all teachers except Electina. A few minutes later, I saw her arrive and immediately called her to my office.

“How is your morning?” I greeted her. She didn’t look greetable though.

“Just say what you want to tell me and avoid these stories,” she answered.

“You are aware I am not happy with your time of arrival,” I said.

“You should have first asked me why I came late,” she said. “I had a problem this morning at home and could not leave.”

“Everyone has problems Electina, I will appreciate if I can be told in advance.”

“I can’t as that will mean I will be talking to you every day,” she said. “I have a lesson to attend,” she said then left.

On Thursday, I left the county education office late. I arrived at Mwisho wa Lami late, at around 5.30pm, but because of my love for Daraja Mbili, I still went to school.

In my office I found the black book. But on reviewing it, I found that all teachers had already signed in for Friday – the next day. All the teachers had “arrived” between 6.50am and 7.30am.

I was upset. The next day I arrived at school early, and went to my office directly. I did not close the door as I wanted to see everyone get in.

El Nino came in very early, but the next teacher arrived at 8.10 am. I wondered how things would be if Matiang’i visited our school at 8 am. I couldn’t accept this. I called for a staff meeting. By 9 am, all teachers were in except Electina and Xtash. “I was having a good week until you spoilt it,” I started. “Is what is indicated in this book the time you really arrived today?” I said, moving the black book around.

“Andrew I told you this book will not add value,” said El Nino. I told him to keep quiet as he had arrived early. No one answered me even as I reprimanded them for long.

Just them Electina knocked.

“I will not allow you to this meeting if you can’t keep school time,” I said. She sneered at me, took a book, and left for class. That was at 9.40 am. Twenty minutes later, Xtash arrived. She was wearing a short, tight and black skirt; with a red tight blouse on top. This matched with her high heel shoes and hair that she had dyed red.

My eyes followed her right from the door to where she went to seat. And they remained fixed on her as she sat down, a lot of things going through my mind.

“Sorry Dre for arriving late,” she said, smiling.

“No Problem Xtash, welcome to school” I said.

I immediately came to my senses. Noticing that everyone was looking at me, I called off the meeting, but with a warning that starting tomorrow I will be very strict on time more than anything else.