Students urged to maintain high degree of discipline

St Elizabeth Academy in Karen, Nairobi, proprietor Anne Wanjiku Munene (left) cut a cake alongside other officials during celebrations to mark the school 27th anniversary. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Students have been asked to maintain a high degree of discipline as a way of leading a better life after school.

 The Proprietor of St. Elizabeth Academy in Karen, Nairobi, Anne Wanjiku Munene, while speaking at Regina Caeli Catholic Church in Karen, Nairobi, on Sunday during celebrations to mark the school's 27th anniversary, said that discipline was key to everything.

 “Although students are encouraged to read hard and pass their examinations, without discipline it will be hard for them to succeed and survive out there,” said Anne.

 She went on to say that many incidents of unrest in schools, particularly secondary schools in the country, are caused by undisciplined students whom she said were putting the future of other students at risk.

 The school owner said that some students find it hard to get employment opportunities due to the bad reputation of the school they are attending, attributing this mainly to indiscipline that causes incidents like riots that lead to the destruction of school property and even burning it.

 “I want to inform you, students, that when you burn schools or destroy property, you pass the burden of repairing the school or buying new materials to your parents. You too know that your records move somewhere where they are labelled and will negatively affect your future,” she said.

 Anne also called on parents and teachers to cooperate in ensuring that students or pupils in schools around the country are monitored for their behaviour and discipline.

 “One of the contributors to indiscipline among our youth and students is the use of drugs, including alcohol, and I call upon my fellow educationists and parents to be on the lookout for this and prevent it from being sneaked into schools,” she said.

 She also urged mothers to take the lead in instilling respect and discipline among their children, saying that in most cases, mothers spend more time with their children than fathers do.

 During the event, school pupils who are sitting for the Grade Six examination and transitioning to Junior Seven, KCSE, and those candidates sitting for international examinations were prayed for in hopes of their success.

 The students also had time to interact with their parents and enjoy cake prepared to mark the day.