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Make Schools in Kenya Drug Free for Learners “to excel well”: Catholic Bishop

Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru, Chairman of the Commission for Education and Religious Education of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB). Credit: KCCB

The Catholic Bishop at the helm of the Commission for Education and Religious Education (CERE) in Kenya has called upon learners and the management of schools in the East African country to use all means possible to eradicate drugs from learning institutions in order to improve their academic performance.

In a Tuesday, May 3 message, Bishop Paul Kariuki Njiru said that students need to embrace good moral standards free from the use of drugs for them “to excel well” in their academics and to come out as future leaders.

“If you want to excel well, if we want to perform well in our schools, our schools must be drug free,” the Chairman CERE of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) said, and added, “Do not encourage those who sell drugs in our schools at any time.”

He said that good performance comes from an undivided mind. He added that learners who use drugs mostly have divided mind and therefore cannot perform well.

The Bishop of Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Embu went on to challenge young people in schools to embrace a virtuous life for them to excel in academics.

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“A synchronized life helps one even to excel well, not only academically but also in life,” Bishop Kariuki said, and added, “You have your God given brain; you are intelligent and therefore, use that to discern well as young people.”

The Kenyan Catholic Bishop urged teachers to be always available for the students and to attend to the learners’ needs.

He underscored the need for teachers to be good examples to be emulated by the students and to prepare well for their lessons so as to give enough content to the learners.

“Teachers, be available for your students in schools; give good examples to our pupils and above all, prepare your lessons well; it all depends on how you package your lessons,” Bishop Kariuki said, adding, “If you prepare well as a teacher, for sure, the students will perform well.”

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He said that it is important for teachers to be available for the students as it will not just help them academically but also emotionally.

The Chairman of the KCCB Commission said that some students come from families with many challenges and for that reason, such learners need someone to talk to and above all, to be counseled. 

The Catholic Bishop urged teachers to refrain from preparing students to copy in their exams but rather to prepare them on how to work hard and to be honest during exams. He said that students who cheat in their exams make terrible doctors and engineers among other professionals in future.

He said that what the East African country needs is not just grades but young people who will not only serve it but who will equally build it.

Bishop Kariuki said that the only way students can reciprocate the commitment, dedication and seriousness of their parents is to excel in exams.

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“We do not want young people to waste their time in school. We ask our young people to ensure that they dedicate their time more in studies and in doing what is expected of them in schools,” he said in his May 3 message.

The Kenyan Catholic Bishop expressed gratitude to the parents and people of goodwill who he said diligently carry out their responsibilities to ensure that their children are in school. He said that good results originate from hard work from parents, teachers and students themselves.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.