Last week, Kapropita Girls’ Secondary School in Baringo County was under public scrutiny.
The school had planned for parents’ day for Form Three students but instructed that only fathers should attend. The public saw this instruction as an insult to children who do not have fathers in their life.
Despite the online rage, the “fathers-only” parents’ day took place as planned during the weekend, and surprisingly, it was a success.
The detail that most people did not understand was that the ‘fathers-only’ event targeted the girls’ male parents, whom the school had noticed rarely attend school meetings.
Speaking during the event, the school’s principal, Ms. Jeniffer Kiprono, explained that the ‘father-only’ was the school’s way of ensuring male parents are involved in their daughters’ psychosocial and academic development.
The parents arrived early at school, and by 9:00 a.m, the school was crowded with “fathers” who had honored the invitation. These “fathers” included uncles, brothers, and grandfathers. The school allowed also the female parents who came to attend the meeting.
Out of the 328 students, male parents and guardians of 320 students attended the meeting, according to a teacher at school who pleaded anonymity.
The “fathers” were welcomed with white roses upon arrival. They were then required to hand the flowers to their children who were lined up in the parade square singing.
According to the principle, the roses symbolized peace, tranquility, and love, which the girls should enjoy from their parents.
She said, “Today, your fathers attended your academic day in numbers as you can see, and to spice up the day, they gave you Rose flowers as a significance of tranquility, peace and love to you.”
To the “fathers” in attendance, the event was fulfilling as it showed them the significance of engaging with their daughters’ lives.
One parent who sought anonymity described the event as unique as it was his first since he admitted his daughter.
Due to the long-distance, I have not managed to attend any of the meetings at the institution since I admitted my daughter two years ago, but this one was an exception and I had to,” he noted.
Regarding their thoughts on the flowers, most parents agreed with the idea.
Another parent explained that the flowers symbolized how male parents should treat their daughters to prevent them from getting attracted to toxic boyfriends.
“To the hundreds of the girls, the flowers they were given might be the first they have ever received from their dads since they were born,” said the parent.
Adding, Those flowers we gave them meant a lot, and we learned that if we give such treatment and stay close to them every other time, then, they do not fall prey to wayward men or seek solace in boyfriends. Cases of teenage pregnancies would be mitigated as well.”
