The Sunday News
Charles Dube
LAST week’s discussion ended with a promise to add more points on ways learners can be successful in school and that is what follows: Learners should avoid blame games. They should not blame others. Experts say the key to developing resilience is to take full responsibility for your life. This means that you refuse to blame others for anything that is going on in your life. Do not blame your teachers, parents or even friends. Do not blame the head of your school or the Government.
There are people who are quick to blame the head of the school or the Government for their shortcomings. Meet your side of the bargain. Do not play the victim even where it is unnecessary. Analyse the mistakes you make in tests and examinations. Go over all the mistakes you make and analyse why you make each mistake. Ask yourself questions such as: Was the mistake due to carelessness? Did I forget a key fact? Did I have a poor understanding of a certain concept? How can I make certain that I will not repeat the mistake? What do I need to do to be better prepared for future tests?
Here is an interesting point: Do not try to remember to do things; make it impossible to forget. Some examples of these things might be homework, studying for tests, bringing your textbook to class. Success as a learner and in life in general, is about daily choices and habits. Do not ever label yourself as “unintelligent” or “not academically” inclined because with the right mind-set you can become more intelligent.
Learners need to be taught stress management. Learners who do not manage their stress well are more likely to experience performance anxiety and get low grades. How can you manage stress levels? You can spend time with friends on a regular basis. Do exercises or read a book. You cannot be engaged in studies all the time, so make time to relax. As stated earlier in one of the issues, doing well in school is not about getting good grades and outperforming your classmates. It is about leading a balanced life which involves setting aside time for relaxation.
Be consistent about your study time. In addition to having a regular weekly schedule that you stick to, it is important to be consistent about your study time. The more consistent you are, the less likely it is that you will need to feel “inspired” to get down to work. On the contrary, you will get down to work out of habit and routine. Have a specific plan or objective for each study session. For each study session set a clear objective as to what you intend to achieve. This might be to read through a set of notes thoroughly or answer practice examination questions.
Devastating news in the past week — 2017 O-level English Paper 2 examination to be re-written. People have spoken and to further discuss the issue here will be doing a disservice and diluting candid opinions proffered on the subject.
People are hopeful that the new dispensation will solve what in some cases have become perennial problems. Children’s Rights groups are crying for help for learners who have dropped out of school because their parents have failed to pay school fees. Do not misconstrue this for the previous article where the outcry was on schools withholding learners’ results for failing to pay fees. This is the answer to the sprouting of unregistered schools and colleges.
Formal schools demand high amounts of money for first time learners which parents cannot afford. Conversely, unregistered schools and colleges charge amounts as little as five dollars a month which appear reasonable though there is very little learning which takes place there; Learners spend most of the time playing. The teachers found there are not qualified such that those amounts of money paid there are going down the drain. Learners do not benefit anything from there.
Parents who send their children there are aware that they are short changed but there is nothing they can do. Their children are thirsty for education which they are denied through the formal sector. Formal schools are refusing to budge. No fees, no school. They follow circulars which direct them to take children without paying all the fees. The circular is hard to come by after an undertaking that it is on its way.
Schools on their part do not follow directives from the media, but, follow directives from their line ministry. Heads of schools do not act on what they read from the media otherwise they will make wrong decisions, but they wait for circulars. As long as it has not been made clear the position on non-payment and payment of school fees, the heads stand guided by what the previous circular said. If they were not allowed to take learners who did not pay fees they will continue to do so.
But as the impasse goes on learners are disadvantaged. There are parents and guardians who have withdrawn their children from school because they cannot afford the fees. Payment plans have not worked for them because of these first time payments they are failing to pay. Meanwhile, when such things are taking place, it is also disturbing to hear that bullying is resurfacing at some schools. Bullying should be nipped in the buddy as it subjects young learners to severe stress and affects their learning. Indeed schools and parents should join hands and stop it. Much has been said on this subject and one would think it no longer exists in schools.
Those learners who want to revive such barbaric acts should not be allowed to succeed. Harmful norms should be discarded.
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