School opens as first staff meeting is marred with shouting matches

As always happens at the beginning of every year, our opening staff meeting was characterised by big dreams. Okonkwo emerged from the December holidays with a lot of energy and great plans for Meta Meta.

His enthusiasm most of the time rubs onto us and we end up making daredevil resolutions. It reminds one of the fanfare that accompanied the unveiling of CORD’s and Jubilee’s manifesto in the run-up to the last general election. If followed through, the resolutions we craft could catapult Meta Meta to an academic giant in the league of Alliance High school.

The highlight of the opening staff meeting was a resolution to improve our mean score by a whole three units! That way, we would not only end up in the papers, but the school management board would take us on a motivation trip to China. Some voices that urged caution while making the audacious resolutions were dismissed as being anti-Meta Meta.

“Bwana principal you may be handing the TSC a rope to hang all of us with,” loudly cautioned Vasco Da Gama, the history master. He has outlived a number of principals and scandals. “The TSC is talking about performance contracting and teachers’ appraisals. Our resolutions could be used against us,” he warned as he banged the table.

Medical allowance

“We must dream big. A few years ago, few believed Obama could one day end up riding on the beast,” countered Wa Makeri then added: “In fact, those without passports should start applying for the document.” A resounding “Amen” yell issued from Magarita’s corner followed.

Schola and Aeneas, however, could not be easily put down. Schola is mad at the TSC for withdrawing her medical allowance and at the same time deducting NHIF dues. “This amounts to double taxation, are teachers the ones to fund Jubilee’s manifesto of universal health care?” she demanded while waving her December pay slip. She was bitter because her ability to get a loan at Mwalimu National Sacco had been dealt a blow.

Aeneas on the other hand wanted to know how professional the appraisal process will be. “The TSC secretariat should first be beyond reproach like Caesar’s wife, otherwise, this will be an avenue for corrupt TSC and County Education Officers to extort money from teachers. How am I sure that the principal will give a true picture of my performance and that malice may not inform his report?” he wondered.

It must be noted that Aeneas has stuck in job group M for a decade and appears set to retire at the same job group.

The traditional ‘opener’ exam also came under scrutiny. “Bwana principal what are we really testing this kids on, given that they have been on a long holiday? Do we test them on Pope Francis’ visit to the country or on how many parties they attended?” Aeneas wanted to know, leaving everyone in stitches. Okonkwo, however, ruled that the school’s tradition had to be respected.

The principal concluded by turning to an issue that almost prevented us from closing as scheduled last term. “Students work and scripts must be handled professionally,” he warned, while eyeing Thunder coldly.

Last term, Thunder was forced to give an emergency exam two days to closing day. He had carried the students’ scripts to mark at home in a bid to beat Wa Makeri’s deadline. The good intentions were, however, compromised when he passed by JJ’s on his way home.

As he confided in me later, he had just gone there for a goat’s engine and a mug of Muteta soup. Some friends came along and convinced him to take a beer to chase down the goat’s head.

That one drink led to many others as they ended up moving from pub to pub. He woke up in the morning to realize he had lost the scripts. Frantic searches in the pubs he had visited yielded nothing.