Lack of proper involvement of parents in the education of their children has been cited as a contributing factor to the decline in performance of learners in Subukia.
This is according to Mary Wanjiru Waiganjo who is the liaison officer at the office of Nakuru governor who said students need to be motivated through career talks and seminars as a way of boosting their performance.
Speaking on Tuesday at PCEA Tetu church in Subukia Sub County students seminar, Mrs Waiganjo said parents are partly to blame by failing to play their role leaving the bulk of the work to teachers.
“These seminars play an important role. We offer them guidance and counselling on education, their sexual life and drugs and substance abuse. It is through these forums, they open up on issues they are undergoing and those they would feel uncomfortable sharing with their parents,” she said.
Waiganjo has been organising similar seminars since 2007 in Subukia and she says the response has been positive from both parents and students.
“Already we have started seeing fruits. We have atleast 10 students who score As in KCSE each year. We used to have pupils who were scoring below 200 marks in KCPE and now a good number of them are scoring 320 marks and above. I motivate them by giving prizes. This encourages them to work hard,” Waiganjo said.
She says the major challenge is lack of funds but she says the progress is significant.
“Education is key in extending boundaries of all aspects of our life. Parents need to emphasise on issues of education. We are past the age of muscles. Innovation and research require education and knowledge. If we improve education, we reduce crime,” she adds.