The strategies discussed here address the root cause of problems in schools such as truancy and indiscipline that have made many students resort to arson and violence. We lay bare what each stakeholder need to do to make our schools better places for molding character.

2. CYRUS MUIGAI KIHARA
Director and Lead Consultant
SKEDASTIC CONSULTANCY FIRM
ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY
LAIKIPIA COUNTY PROFESSIONALS
JACARANDA HOTEL
23rd
November, 2018

3. Causes of Academics in Laikipia County
• Economic related challenges- Limited financial resources; books &
learners teacher ratio .
• Environmental related challenges - Lack of role models and
motivation
• Insecurity
• Lack of self drive among learners and negative attitude towards
education
• Poor parenting and child labour
• Drugs and substance abuse e.t.c.

4. In Kenya, are the number of the following or ?
The indiscipline cases in schools , Conflicts in organizations,
 Domestic violence in families, murder cases and lifestyle diseases,
Crimes(e.g corruption, stealing, cheating ), drug & substance abuse.
 Cartels, political divisions, Lack of self drive among employees
(some are pushed to work): are on the rise (increasing) despite;
The Guidance & Counseling, punishment to offenders, tough rules
and regulations, very heavy penalties and jail terms charged to
perpetrators. NTSA, NACADA,NCA, TPAD, CCTV IN SCHOOLS, STREETS,
Challenges in Kenya

5.  The gap between the rich & the poor is widening.
 Poverty continues to inflict the lives of millions and inequality
continues to grow in Kenya.
 The number of churches are increasing day after day but
people are not becoming more holier.
 While in countries like Denmark, Finland, France, Norway ,
Sweden and Japan, Inequality remains low. Corruption,
conflicts and even strikes in these countries are low.
Challenges in Kenya

6. The Big Questions
1. In general, how is our behaviour towards other people?
A. Generous B. Selfish
2. At what stage in life or age, can one mould or effectively
change one’s behaviour/character?
A. Below 18 years B. Above 18 years
3. Where did/do people spend most of their time at the stage
stated in 2 above?
A.Church B. School C. Home
4. What is this that was & is done in 3. above(SCHOOLS) at ages
below 18 years that led/leads to SELFISH behaviour in 1. above.

7. School Environment
Flashback and remember your primary and secondary life.
 Share with your neighbour(seatmate) something positive and
negative that you learnt from the school environment. Please be
sincere 2 him/her.
Who taught you naughty things?
A behaviour learnt at a tender age remains in our subconscious
mind & determines your character in adulthood.
People’s behaviour or character is largely determined by the
environment: Law of Adaptation.

8. School stakeholders’ Challenges
Mention or list them down.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

9. Competitive Learning
 Primary and secondary schools in Kenya adopted
competitive learning strategy that encourages competition
among learners and recognition of top performers.
It demoralizes a bigger proportion of the students in
class/school, since very few learners benefit from the
scheme (positions 1,2,3 and most improved).
 Some are also demoralized parents and fails to support the
school management. Absenteeism rises.

10. Competitive Learning Cont..
This reward scheme discourages teamwork among the
pupils/students for one strives to out shine others, get the best
position and an individual prize/gift or recognition.
Many loose hope developing low esteem, lack of creativity,
critical thinking and self-drive.
The learners hide or steal books, pens, calculators, log tables
from their competitors to frustrate them; thieves in adulthood.
Indiscipline cases(coupling, teenage pregnancies, alcoholism,
drugs & substance abuse) to shield academic
weaknesses (defense mechanism) .

11. Competition Environment
The system make learners become teacher dependent; Lazy.
Some students doze off during a lesson.
Sharing among learners becomes difficult, even after formation of
discussion groups in classes. Trs cover syllabus with very few students.
The young learners develops a selfish character and a behaviour that is
difficult to change in adulthood.
 Some copy assignments from their colleagues & avoid exams to an
extent of burning schools.

12. Competition Environment
The gap between the best students & weak students widens as they
proceed from one level to the Next.
Students develop a negative attitude towards subjects; a big challenge
to school management, teachers, parents, E.Os, donors.
Some students hide report books from their parents/they doctor them.
The selfish character & behaviour inculcated in peoples lives at a
tender age, makes fight against corruption, domestic violence,
political unity, single parenthood, murder, suicide, extrajudicial
killings, strikes & cartels etc. so difficult.

13. The analogy of competitive learning

14. Collaborative Learning Environment
Collaborative learning encourages cooperation and teamwork
among learners.
Finland adopted collaborative learning techniques in all their
schools.
There are no lists of best learners, schools or teachers. The
main driver of education policy is not competition between
learners, teachers and between schools, but cooperation.
The peers motivate & encourage one another unlike in the

15. Collaborative Environment
The gap between the best and the weak student is very
small. Everyone works to improve each other and they are
not selfish.
There are minimal disparities in Finland due to equity
brought by collaborative learning technique. Consequently
the levels of crimes, political greed, strikes and conflicts are
very low.

16. Flashback
You were once a pupil/student like those that you teach or mentor
Who influenced you to like the subject(s) that you scored highly?
Who made you dislike/hate subject that you scored poorly?
A. Principal/Head teacher B. Parent C. Subject Teacher D. Others
 Therefore we need to supplement our teaching pedagogy, Q &
A technique, homework & assignments, marking methodology,
exam revision style and KCSE analysis for better performance.
The strategy will solve the challenges you face in your school(s)
and in the nation at large.

17. Long- Lasting Solution
Adoption of pure collaborative strategy will lead to very lazy students
& history has proved that competitive learning strategy leads to
selfishness.
Therefore, the solution to challenges in Laikipia County is the
formulation, implementation and control of collaborative and
competitive learning strategies in all our schools.
SKEDASTIC CONSULTANCY FIRM developed a well
researched and thought-out strategy that fits perfectly within
35/40 minutes of a single lesson.

18. Objectives of the Learning Strategy
1. To develop positive attitude towards a subject/teacher within a day.
2.To develop self drive among all students.
3. To improve performance of students especially weak students in class.
4. To enhance creativity and critical thinking in all students in class.
5. To cover syllabus objectives (KICD and KNEC) faster, effectively and
efficiently.
6. To actively involve Every student/pupil in class and ensure they are
alert throughout the lesson.
7. To develop a culture of teamwork and concern for others.
8. To improve students discipline and sense of responsibility.

19. Implementation Program and Quotation
DESCRIPTION TIME COST
Stage 1 (i) School management sensitization 30 minutes
£ per
stage
(ii) Training of Teaching staff B4 8.00 am or Break time or lunch
break or After 4.00pm
(iii) Class Organization & Demonstration 40 minutes in different classes
Stage 2 After one Week
(i) Teachers assessment through class observation
or Role play
40 minutes in different classes
£ per
stage(ii) Feedback and solution B4 8.00 am or Break time or lunch
break or After 4.00pm
(iii) Introduction of Subject Contest B4 8.00 am or Break time or lunch
break or After 4.00pm
Stage 3 As soon as possible after stage 2
(i) Subjects CAT/EXAM Setting by Students During Preps / Weekends/ Appropriate
time £ per
stage(ii) Students’ Exam Supervision and invigilation
(iii) CAT/EXAM Marking and recognition Scheme
(iv) Parents sensitization and Engagement 1 hour

20. Implementation Program and Quotation
Optional
Stages
DESCRIPTION TIME COST
Stage 4 (i) Insha Writing and Contest
£ per stage
(ii) Lugha na Fasihi Contest
Stage 5 (i) Composition Writing and Contest
£ per stage
(ii) Grammar and Literature Contest
Stages
6…….
(i) Subject Revision Techniques with Students 40mins
£ per subject
(ii) KCSE subject Analysis and contest Depends
Stages
7…..
CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY and PHYSICS
Practicals. £ Per Subject
once implemented perfectly from FORM 1 to FORM 4 in a LESSON and during REVISION
TIME , it becomes a CULTURE of your school.

21. THE END
ANY QUESTION(S)?
CYRUS M. KIHARA : B.sc. (Egerton), M.sc. Food Sc.(In progress)
Director and lead Consultant MBA (JKUAT), Ph.D. BA (In progress)-Strategic Management
Tel: 0722373486 / 0734373486
Email: skedasticfirm@gmail.com
Part-time Lecturer at JKUAT and Masinde Muliro University.
Consult in
Academics
Management
Marketing
Research
Let us team up and work towards improving each other for a better nation
Thank you and be blessed