Proper guidance needed for current class six and form two

Kakamega High school principal George Orino addresses students before rehearsal at the school.[Mumo Munuve,Standard]

The Covid spread, which has come with devastating effects in all spheres of society, has not spared the education sector. The academic calendar has had to be realigned from time to time to suit the prevailing circumstances.

The realignments have come with their fair share of confusion to various education stakeholders, especially the parents. One major impact of such shifts is that there shall be two candidate classes next year.

The current form three and standard seven shall sit their national exams in March 2021, while those in form two and class six shall sit theirs in November, the same year!

For those in form three and standard seven, it can be argued that they have had ample time to prepare for the exam.

However, the same cannot be said about the current form two and standard six students. Within one year, the students will shall have done three classes: Forms two, three and four and standard six, seven and eight! This no child’s play.

In other words, the students are in form two and standard six in July 2021 but shall be completing their current levels by December 2022! This is indeed a tall order. And it calls for extra ordinary measures, since tough times call for tough measures.

These two classes have no time to “celebrate” the much dreaded adolescence, which coincidentally affects both classes at their levels. The form two learners don't have time either with subject selection.

They should have chosen their subjects and made a permanent decision about it. It is not a surprise to see some students keep shifting their interest in subjects, even at form four.

By this time, the students in form two and Standard six should have clear strategies, and understand that success is deliberate, and not luck. They should be finalising form one summaries, concurrently as they cover the form two work, while standard 6 should be revising work from standard one to five, parallel to standard six work.

The importance of doing this cannot be gainsaid. For without a solid foundation from standard four, five and six, standard eight pupils cannot shine in national exams. In secondary, KCSE is literally form one to four work.

By the end of this month, these students will be in form three and standard seven, that penultimate end-year class. The class that usually makes or breaks. 

I urge school heads and teachers to pay extra attention to students in form two and standard six. Let it sink in their heads that if time and tides wait for no man, it certainly shall not wait for them. The time for them to prepare for the candidate classes is now. In other words, they have no time even to celebrate finishing the exam next year! In the next edition, I shall give the specific tips to be considered. Meanwhile, let those in form two and standard six keep the focus and the discipline.

Dan Bobea is a teacher and consultant at Ramani Afrika Educational Services. [email protected]