Lillian Ng’ang’a has sparked a significant conversation regarding the emotional and psychological pressure placed on school children. The author and former First Lady of Machakos County recently took to Instagram to question why the education system continues to punish students for failing to meet academic benchmarks.
The discussion was triggered by a candid conversation she had with her seven-year-old nephew. While the young boy was excited about starting coding lessons, he revealed a disheartening reality of his school life.
He explained that children who fail are often punished by being made to run around the field.
A Lesson in Humiliation
Ng’ang’a expressed immediate concern over these methods. She argued that such penalties are counterproductive to the actual process of learning. In a post shared with her followers, she was clear about the impact of these practices on a child’s self-esteem.
"Children should be allowed to learn without being punished for not 'passing' exams. Grading can be done later for placement purposes. Academic excellence is just one part of excellence.”
“I am homeschooling because I wouldn't want my son to be taken through this because probably your child is good in what is not offered in school. So that means they'll never appear on stage and hold that well awards and all that.”
The Legacy of "Low Achievers"
Reflecting on her own time in high school, Ng’ang’a recalled a long-standing tradition of labelling students based on their marks. She remembered how students who did not meet the pass mark were paraded on stage during prize-giving days.
She described how these "low achievers" were shown to the entire school as failures. "Imagine that is so wrong," she remarked, highlighting the cruelty of public shaming in an educational setting.
Protecting the Dignity of Learning
Ng’ang’a believes that children often learn at their own pace. She argued that basic skills like addition or reading are often mastered naturally as a child grows. She questioned why a child should be punished for a lack of knowledge that they will eventually acquire with age.
She expressed worry that a child might be gifted in areas that are simply not offered in a standard school curriculum.
A Call for Reform
The activist is now advocating for a shift in how the education system operates. She suggested that the priority should be on the learning journey rather than the final score.
Ng’ang’a concluded Ng’ang’a concluded by urging parents to be more involved in the school environment. She believes parents should have a greater say in how their children are treated.
She encouraged her audience to share their own stories of feeling less than during their school years, hoping to foster a more compassionate approach to education.
