Education has been termed as one of the major weapons to fight poverty and the key to unlock doors to success. There are those who believe in this and others claim it is only but a theory yet to be proven. For those who ascent to this argument, perhaps went to school, sat for their exams and passed highly, but those who think otherwise might have sat for the exams and unfortunately didn’t make it but later they were lucky to prosper in life. An examination is a simple test of what a student has learned at school. However, most learners develop fear and panic whenever the term ‘exam’ is mentioned. This is the time they become more serious in their studies, most of them waking up early in the morning to study and other studying till late in the night.
The big question that should be deliberated on by all education stakeholders is ‘why do school going children fear exam?’ Is the problem with the learners or with teachers, or all? In the past 15 years, unpleasant activities have been witnessed in schools when main national exams are approaching. Most times, dormitories will go in flames and some students will just walk out of school. Some will whip teachers and cause havoc in school just for them to make the environment not conducive for exam and be sent home. But why should a pupil who has been in school for eight solid years be afraid to sit for an exam that is supposed to determine his/her life. As education stakeholders such as teachers unions claim that ‘exams’ is the main reason why there has been unrest in more than 50 schools in the country, causing a loss of Sh48,308,720 as per the chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Interior. It is clear that pupils fear to sit for the exams in fear of failing due to poor preparation hence being a laughing stalk in the community.
Then again, who is to blame for their poor preparation?It is therefore very essential to prepare our pupils adequately and motivate them to read. Guiding and counselling programmes should be initiated in all schools to help the pupils have confidence in themselves. Moreover, the teacher-pupil relationship has to be great to avoid tension between the pupil and teacher. The teacher should be free with a pupil and be ready to answer to their calls in case the pupil has a problem. Great learning in class happens only when the teacher and the pupils have a great interaction. The teacher should be able to understand the strengths and weakness of the pupil. He/she should not rebuke the pupil upon failing exams or issue corporal punishment. Corporal punishment leads to hatred and creates fear and tension of the pupil towards the teacher. Guiding and counselling should be conducted by the teachers to enable strengthen the pupil’s courage and motive towards academic excellence. This policy has been adopted by schools like Bridge International Academies where teachers have created an incredible relationship with the pupils. They are always there for the pupils at their most needed times. The teachers always monitor the academic progress of the pupils and help those who are weak and motivates those fast learners to do better. Walk in any class of any Bridge schools and you will realize the cohesion and the academic bond that exists between the teachers and pupils.
Thanks to the ministry education for banning corporal punishment for it understands that when you continuously cane a pupil, he/she will grow to believe that it is the only thing that can make him/her is work. Ms. Amina Mohamed, Education Cabinet Secretary discounted corporal punishment as a viable form of discipline students saying it undermined the dignity of learners and also their self-confidence. This has resulted to pupils from Bridge outperforming their peers from other schools in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education for the last three consecutive years. The pupils are free to approach any teacher and get help from them. When the pupil is free, tension-free and well-motivated, there is nothing that will make him/her fear exams. The pupil has been taken through the whole process and understands the sweetness of success. Habit is something that is gradually inculcated in a pupil and grows slowly as the pupil grows and moves to the next level. The discipline, belief and character of students is nurtured and molded from the primary level.
If the pupils are well nurtured and made to understand that exams are part and parcel of the academic process, then we will experience less havoc and discontent in schools. And that explains why the country has experienced so much unrest in secondary schools that saw over 279 learners put being behind bars. Pupils need care, love and proper guidance from both parents and teachers for them to grow and become whom we dream them to become. Their future lies upon the teachers who are tasked with the responsibility to sharpen and mould them into top achievers and successful people in life. Guidance and counselling is a programme teacher should follow to the latter for it will help drive away the exam phobia and just like Albert Einstein states, ‘teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as a hard duty.’