This is how I see it. Schools can preserve eidetic institutional memories in people, buildings, publications, portraits, plaques, libraries, annual events, recordings, phenomenal lectures, photo galleries, and professional documents, among other things.
Advisedly, when a keen principal joins a new school, it is important to set the blueprint for the institution. In Best Management Practices, visionary principals supervise the formulation and impressive implementation of 5-year Strategic Plans. As a scribe who assists schools to write and edit that great text, I am acutely aware that most Strategic Plans assist Heads of Institutions to lead with good ideas. Then, this management document is a memory manual — acting as a good guide in governance.
Again, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should give principals ample time to settle in stations to go through good-grafting and proper-plugging. Somehow, a sufficient stint in stations assists them to bond better with staff, students and several stakeholders. When they establish close camaraderie with the community, this preserves photographic institutional memory.
No wonder, we should press the pause button and ask what made Carrey Francis and Geoffrey Griffins leave lasting legacies at Alliance High School in Kiambu and Starehe Boys Centre in Nairobi respectively? Splendid indeed, my in-depth research convinces my conscience that the two unforgettable administrators had some prime time to run the two great schools without interference of capricious bosses who sometimes turn and toss principals with the comportment of contempt.
Somewhat, when there is a high turnover of heads, our schools miss an aspect of institutional memory I call “culture and tradition”. Yet, great schools anchor on firm foundations of culture and tradition. The textbook definition of culture is the way of life. While tradition encompasses routines, rituals, rites and customs, which are preserved to prevent loss of collective conscience, principles and practices are treasured in a particular community.
Somehow, it is impossible to preserve fond memories in places where there are no careful custodians keen to compile chronicles, as well as keep riveting repositories. This explains why sensible and sensitive citizens value elderly people in any sane society. Again, culture and tradition are tenets of history and heritage. Wendel Pierce observed, “The role of culture is that it is the form through which we as a society reflect on who we are, where we have been, and where we hope to be.” No wonder, there is the exigence of making learners treasure history of their schools. Marcus Garvey put it aptly, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture are like trees without roots.”
For instance, Kenyatta High School-Mahiga in Nyeri invests heavily on churning out quality school magazines: to treasure their past, present and future. Alliance High School in Kiambu documents its alumni in their annual yearbook. By this making their past a prologue. When you tip-toe into the principal’s office at Njoro High School in Nakuru, you will ascertain that they are keen to preserve history and heritage of their school by hanging photos of former principals on their hallowed halls. As a peripatetic public speaker, I have seen the same photos at Asumbi Girls School in Homa Bay.
Likewise, the former Chief Principal of Mudavadi Girls School in Vihiga, who is now at Sega Girls School in Siaya, is fond of keeping some beautiful photo albums of schools she is chanced to lead, which chronicles major events. Ribe High School in Kilifi abuts on Kaya Shrines: helping students to appreciate cultural diversity, evinced by the Mijikenda Community. Most schools also hang boards in strategic places: Enshrining names of former principals, chairpersons of the Board of Management, chairpersons of the head students and top students in national exams. Hall of Fame — is the lingo and language known to all and sundry.
Moreover, institutions preserve memories in their panoply of philosophies and eclectic ethos — class chants, slogans, mottos, missions, visions, anthems and theme songs. Institutions dedicate buildings to personalities they would not want to forget about soon due to their indelible footprints on the sands of time. Good golden plaques pasted on buildings also point to memories of who presided over some colourful occasions in the recent and distant past. Ipso facto, there are important professional documents that preserve institutional memory. They include school logbook, visitors’ book, occurrence book, registration certificate, prospectus, brochure, school infrastructure development plan, strategic plan, site plan — and minutes of staff, Board of Management, Parents Association, et cetera.
Finally, annual events staged in institutions preserve memory. These events could include alumni reunion, annual anniversaries, founders’ day, academic clinics and Annual General Meetings (AGMs). Some institutions also strive to preserve their history through portraits of founders and alumni. Or staging memorial lectures to extol lofty ideas and ideals of their local legends. When you visit Chewoyet High School in West Pokot, the staffroom is labeled “Kenyatta House”.
While holed up there, your eyes will see old photos and writings of some of our founding fathers — Kapenguria 6. History hums that the current staffroom was the awe-inspiring court, where those legends were tried before facing final detention at the current Kapenguria Museum. I also think. Just like we have the statue of Senior Chief Koinange at Senior Chief Koinange Girls School in Kiambu, Senior Chief Mwangeka Girls School in Taita-Taveta should follow suit.
Likewise, Ng’iya Girls School in Siaya should have a statue of its admirable alumna, the late Grace Akinyi Ogot. In addition, a special building should be set aside to display her images, a history of her checkered career path, and the books she penned in her lifetime. This can leave a puissant impact on the attitude—mindset and beliefs—of the brilliant belles in that iconic institution.
By Victor Ochieng’
The writer rolls out talks and training services. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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