For the love of art and craft, pupils get down to business
Members of the Art Club at King’ong’o Primary School in Nyeri make a table mat. The school provides the children an opportunity to develop their artistic talents. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI |
What you need to know:
- Every Tuesday evening, they gather under a tree at the extreme corner of the school’s field — their art centre. Each armed with a pen and a paper, the pupils keenly follow their teacher’s instructions as they sketch different images.
- Due to the club’s existence, the school gets an additional benefit as it is kept tidy by the club members who collect waste paper for their work.
- Technology has made pupils dormant and they lack creativity since parents buy ready-made playing models for them, according to the teacher.
Fourteen years after the scrapping of Art and Craft from the syllabus, a school in Nyeri County is keeping alive the creative spirit.
Pupils at King’ong’o Primary School and their teacher are running a vibrant art club, which provides the learners with an opportunity to practise their hobby.
Every Tuesday evening, they gather under a tree at the extreme corner of the school’s field — their art centre. Each armed with a pen and a paper, the pupils keenly follow their teacher’s instructions as they sketch different images.
A display of finished drawings and models of animals are the learners’ source of pride and hope for art’s future. Their teacher, Mr Joel Kariuki, says the club has engaged the pupils in drawing, weaving and modelling.
Mr Kariuki started the club after he realised not all pupils were academically talented.
“Many schools have dwelt much on pupils’ academic excellence,” he says. “Some teachers go to the extent of condemning poor performing pupils, not realising they have a hidden talent.”
ADDITIONAL BENEFIT
Due to the club’s existence, the school gets an additional benefit as it is kept tidy by the club members who collect waste paper for their work.
“Every pupil has to carry waste paper from home as well as collect those disposed of around the school compound. By doing so, we ensure our environment is clean.”
He says pupils learn more from visual sources hence parents should encourage their children to engage in drawing and modelling.
Technology has made pupils dormant and they lack creativity since parents buy ready-made playing models for them, according to the teacher.
Eliud Odieki, a Class Eight pupil, said through his art works, he raised enough cash to supplement his holiday tuition fees.
According to Ms Ann Mwiti, a Fine Art lecturer at Kenyatta University, modelling and drawing are essential to students who aspire to pursue engineering, architecture, graphic design and physical planning courses.
