Now, Form 4 candidates are like a ship approaching the harbour. Just about to dock. A mere mishap can cause shipwreck or sink the whole ship.
In Gem of Siaya county, our humble and simple sages warned, “Yie podho ka dhi gowo”. Meaning, the ship capsizes when it is about to dock.
No wonder, as I sit to weave these wise words at the Penman Centre in Nairobi, I caution Form 4 candidates not to make some of these mistakes while preparing for the KCSE exam.
Firstly, Form 4 candidates err when they stop working hard, and begin thinking of how to cheat. Yes, they goof when they stop revising because they expect some leakage. For this is what causes some candidates to attempt to sneak phones into schools because someone somewhere lied to them.
Lack of exam integrity is a mistake that can foment trouble for the whole centre.
It can lead to cancellation of all results. Also, when candidates choose to cheat in KCSE and scoop stupid As, KUCCPS places them in courses they lack the right attitude and aptitude to pursue at tertiary level.
Secondly, as Form 4 candidates prepare to sit and write the KCSE exam, they should not down their academic tools and lie to themselves that they are done and dusted. Instead, they should use every minute to prepare more. T
hen, candidates err when they prioritise comfort, hence succumb to laziness, lassitude and attitude of finitude. There is possibility to experience body and mental fatigue. But they must choose to finish strong.
Thirdly, candidates miss the mark when they clamour for free time. Some swell with stupid pride. Or hubris—excess self-confidence and pride.
Then, there is chutzpah—extreme self-confidence or audacity.
This is when they are tempted to belittle the specialised knowledge and experience of teachers.
Then, they decide to skive last-minute revision programmes.
It is when some of them feel that they know better. When in actual sense, most of them know very little, and the little they know, they do not know well.
Consequently, in the process of preparing for KCSE, some Form 4s dodge games and physical exercise.
Yet, it is advisable to spare some time, and steady their nerves in the field.
They should engage in activities that can help them manage stress, overcome fear and be in good shape; both mentally and physically.
Moreover, a major mistake committed by candidates is refusing to follow the raft of rules and regulations.
Yet, Jim Rohn advised, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.”
Some of the indiscipline cases committed by candidates include Defiance of authority, disobedience, engaging in fights, abusing drugs, wearing wrong school uniform, having unacceptable hair style, lesbianism, gayism, use of vulgar language, vandalising school property, boycotting classes, refusing to perform duties, theft, assault and incitement.
In day schools, truancy or absenteeism is a big issue that dents KCSE performance.
Coupling is a mistake that some candidates commit. In the process, administration and teachers waste a lot of time-solving indiscipline cases.
Instead of focusing on thorough revision, they spend eternity in correcting aberrant behaviour.
In addition, Form 4 candidates err when they choose to succumb to despair. Giving up.
Largely, discouragement emanates from a series of failure and defeat. Yet, through several trials, candidates can repair their despair. No candidate should cry, but try.
The classic case in history is Thomas A. Edison, the great American inventor. After failing numerous times in his attempts to invent the light bulb, he concluded:
“I have not failed; I have only found 10,000 ways that will not work.” Winston Churchill also observed, “Success is moving from failure to failure without the loss of enthusiasm.”
Lastly, Form 4 candidates who do not rely on God Almighty to help them access success in KCSE err. Proverbs 21:31 reminds us that a horse is prepared for war, but victory comes from the Lord.
This underscores the essence of spiritual
preparation, which props up academic and psychological preparations for KCSE. Apostle
Paul of Tarsus penned in 1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God! He gives
us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Victor Ochieng'' Peripatetic
speaker in schools. [email protected].