Nurturing gifted pupils

By Michael Oriedo

Students who took part in the just concluded Kenya Schools and Colleges National Music Festival will have fond memories of the fete long after they have completed their education.

Perhaps what they will remember most is their performance at the annual popular festival and the awards they received.

But many of the students who displayed immense talents will not get a chance to develop and exploit their gifts beyond high school.

Many experts blame the situation on the 8-4-4-education system which heavily leans on academic work and does little to nurture talent.

Students are exhorted to focus on academics and ‘shun’ athletic and creative activities that may derail their performance in class including drama and music.

Opportunities for talented students to develop their skills diminish even more after high school. Those who may want to pursue creative careers like music, drama, sports and art find few opportunities for further training. Indeed some of the countries top artistes were forced to home their skills abroad. A case in point is celebrated musician Eric Wainaina who holds a degree in Music from Berkeley University in the US.

But this situation is changing. An arts school is setting an example of how to nurture talents and help creative students achieve their dreams.

The Kenya Performing Arts Group (KPAG) trains talented and creative high school and college students to make careers out of their talents. "We admit school leavers who are interested in performing arts and turn them into professional artists," says Mr Moses Oduor, the group’s Art Director.

Many of the students who discovered their music and acting skills in secondary school.

Art management

The school based at the Kenya Cultural Centre offers a four-year-programme that is highly practical. Students take art management, theatre and dance courses.

"This is reinforced with workshops, international performances and educational exchange programme with students from different countries in Europe," says Odour.

Arts management involves lessons in lighting, costume design, communication, budgeting, accounting, insurance, makeup, massage, scripting, anatomy and proposal writing.

"These lessons help an artist understand performing arts as a professional subject. Many take it as only going on stage and entertaining people," he says.

Similarly, in dance and theatre, students learn how to script and stage plays as well as create and choreograph dances. The practicals are intensive and significant.

In second year, students undertake what is known as Internal Directing Project (IDP).Here, learners script, direct, source sponsorship and stage performances to earn marks to proceed to the next level.

"One is expected to come up with a script, audition actors from his classmates, direct the performance and publicise it internally for people to attend the show," Odour explains.

The quality and success of the show thereafter is assessed and appraised.

During fourth year, students undertake a similar project targeting people outside the school.

Known as External Directing Project (EDP), it is meant to test students’ ability to create successful productions.

Sponsorship

"One comes up with a performance, directs it, sources sponsorship and stages it in four different places in the country," Odour says.

At the end of the programme, Oduor says, one gets a qualification equivalent to a degree.

Some of our graduates have now formed their own theatre groups," he says.

Winfred Njambi, a student at the school, joined the group to further her interest in performing arts. "I completed school last year and convinced my parents to enrol me at the school. I loved acting in secondary school and I want to become a professional artiste," says the 18-year-old.

Another pupil Gilbert Magero, 16, wants to become a DJ.

"I attend the school over the holidays to learn audio and video disc jockeying," says the Form Two student .

Oduor says it is time art based courses are considered as gateways to serious careers and not just hobbies. "We have examples of successful local musicians and actors."

According to the arts director, the best time to start nurturing pupil’s talent is at primary and secondary schools.

"This is the time students start to manifest their talents and passion in art. They should be helped to cultivate discipline, determination and perseverance if they are to nurture their skills," he says.

In high school for instance, he says, one way of nurturing talent is by allowing students to come up with plays based on set books. "Most schools invite performing arts groups to stage plays for students forgetting that they have actors in their midst," he says.

With school’s support, students can act a set book and then invite other students to watch the play.

This however should not be free, Odour says.

"They ought to charge other students minimal entrance fees. It is a way of cultivating the culture of appreciating art," he says,