Life lessons that come with teacher Peter Tabichi’s victory

The story of victory of teacher Peter Tabichi gives children, and students from less privileged family backgrounds, schools and histories a reason to believe and aim nothing less of the best that the world can offer.

It should serve to erase the fear of inferiority complex among youngsters and bolster their ambitions vis-a-vis life dreams and goals. Tabichi’s story not only gives hope to students alone but also teachers and other citizens working in areas considered ‘underprivileged.’

Peter Tabichi is a teacher at Keriko Mixed Secondary School. He won the world’s best teacher award, an award whose worth is Ksh 100,000,000. The teacher is credited for issuing out eighty percent of his salary to the needy students in the form of school fees.

He has also initiated clubs at his rural Nakuru based school, clubs that spread cohesion among Kenyans, regardless of their tribes and ethnicity. Further, he has formed science clubs in the school, where he trains students in coming up with innovations.

His efforts have born fruits since students from his school have defeated ‘giant schools’ in national science and engineering fair. For students from a school with a single computer, and no sophistication that other high-end schools enjoy such dining hall, to produce top projects in the national science fair is no joke. Some students from his school will also participate in international science and engineering fair, which will be held in the USA.

That spells tonnes of passion and dispels the notion that one’s life must be pegged to where they hail. Students and any students for that matter can conquer the world if they want to, with the right guidance and strong will power.

For teachers and other workers elsewhere, a lesson pronounced here is that your productivity must not tie to your place of work, and the conditions thereof. I’m not mentioning that workers’ right should be violated, nay. I am saying that with love for one’s work, happiness will flow and success will just come.

Peter Tabichi, chose to teach at a school that is located deep in the sleepy villages of Nakuru county, several kilometers away from a tarmac road. The school knows no dining hall, has no enough TSC teachers, lacks computer labs, and even water. Amidst all these challenges, Mr. Tabichi’s outstanding work called for attention from the world and commanded respect from all and sundry. Love conquers all, including harsh living conditions.

Tabichi’s success provides hope for integrity and humane, loving Kenyans in the time and age when corruption and all manner of evils seem to be dogging most leaders from diverse corners. The fact that Tabichi dedicates a considerable part of his salary towards helping the needy should zap the greedy leaders that we witness in society today back to reality.

Tabichi’s achievements condemn those who have guts to steal from the orphaned, the poor and many other needy cases that abound in society today. Tabichi has made up plans to use the cash to help his community and students, including putting up a computer lab for his hitherto little known school, help donate school fees to the needy students and also buy a school bus for his school.

Last but not least, Tabichi has cemented the fact and belief that surrendering one’s life and plans to God indeed avails much. He (Mr. Tabichi) is described as a staunch Christian who believes in using his talents and abilities to make the world a better place. You too can do that. Use your skills and resources to serve God and humanity. I hope you will, won’t you?