Happy Teacher's Day

 This week we celebrate World Teachers Day (WTD). WTD is a natural extension of UNESCO's all year round work of promoting teachers, ensuring that this profession, so vital to the healthy functioning of society, is itself "healthy".  Teachers are a normative indicator of social health.

I admire the teachers we have here in Kenya. Most of them work with very little resources in the classroom, long hours and the pay is not always regular. Some classes have over 100 students without electricity or enough desks. I’ve heard of cases where a student saves for a textbook only to have it taken by the teacher because they don’t even have a copy.

 

A crowded classroom

A few weeks ago I was chatting with one of our boarding school students. He told me how they have to get up at 3.45am and their day went through until 10pm each night. There was very little time for extracurricular activities even on a Sunday.

This is in sharp contrast to what our students at the Osiligi Training Centre have on offer. Students are assessed when they enter the two year program to see where they are academically. It is a goal that all students sit the KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education) before they leave the program. Here in Kenya an employer will always ask what certificates they have so completing the KCPE makes them more employable. Class sizes vary from 4 to 10 students.

Classes are held from 8.30am until 1pm, when the lunch bell rings. Students are split up into their academic levels and the classes are rotated over a 45 minute class. The staff at Osiligi is responsible for teaching classes as well as mentoring the students, assisting in agriculture and running the evening programs. Considering their day starts at 6am our teachers are dedicated to their calling right throughout the day.

Some students at Osiligi Training Centre

Teachers should not be underestimated in the role that they play in the life of a student. How many of us have been inspired by an excellent teacher or been crushed by their harsh words? I remember my senior school teacher telling me that we would all fail our national maths exam – I think most of us did because of the words she spoke.

Our teachers at Osiligi see their most important role is to inspire the young men to do better in life.

A good teacher will live a lifelong positive impression on their students. We are blessed because we can pray with our students, enjoy life with them and then graduate them into the next step of their life. They have small classes, resources, get paid each month and actually like their jobs!

We salute the teaching staff at Osiligi for the excellent job they do. This year we have 3 students sitting the KCPE in November and we look forward to sharing with you their results.