Ever saw or heard of a high school principal who wears full school uniform to work?
Often times, students mistake them as one of their own. But it’s not just the students, the local community as well is yet to come to terms with their new style of leadership.
Most parents expect that a school principal to be in sharp suits, not school sweaters and blazers.
Well, Mkenya Leo has compiled a list of school principals who enjoy wearing school uniforms while at work.
1. Alex Maina Kariuki
Alex Maina Kariuki is the principal of Friends School Kamusinga in Bungoma county.
He reports to work Monday to Friday wearing the school’s complete uniform, from shirt, to trousers to socks and tie.
Mr Maina explains that his unique way of doing things is for the greater good of the students.
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He says it has been his tradition to wear a school uniform at work, even in his former post at Ololaiser High School in Kajiado county. He was transferred to Friends School Kamusinga in January.
“From the previous school I came from, Ololaiser high school, it was my tradition to put on school uniform Mondays and Fridays.
“I have very basic reasons why I put on school uniform. One of them is to identify me with the students, get to their level and be reachable in case they have a need because the uniform puts people on the same bar.” Maina said in an interview with a TV station.
2. Wilson Achoko
Wilson Achoko, the principal of Barwesa Secondary School in Baringo County opted to don the school uniform, in a bid to tame the unruly behaviour of students, which he claims, worked.
Achoko stated that when his students burnt down the school in 2020, he was desperate to keep the students in school, and make himself easily approachable.
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He now says that he doesn’t regret turning to the school uniform, because the move has helped tame tension and indiscipline cases in the school, and improved interaction among the students and teachers.
“I decided to wear a school uniform because it makes the students much closer to me. Initially, students never came to the office. But when I started putting on the uniform, they became very close to me.
“I also decided to maintain an open door policy which makes them very free. They tell me all the issues they have and it becomes very easy to solve them.
“When students see you come down to their level, they feel very happy and at peace,” Achoko remarked.
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The principal proceeded to say that the burning of a girl’s dormitory in 2020 was a wake up call for him, since even some students were aware of it, but never tried to reach out to the teachers.
“Burning down of the school in 2020 was a wake up call to me, because I later learnt that there were students who were aware that the incident was being planned, but they never reached out to us. That is when I knew there was a need to bridge the gap between the administration and the students,” he stated.
Achoka says that besides wearing uniforms and applying an open door policy, they have come up with suggestion boxes where students can send anonymous messages to the administration on any matter affecting them.
The principal noted that as a result, they have been able to register better results, with the school’s mean score rising.
Mr Fred Mogaka, the principal of Kisii High School is not your ordinary principal as he has stunned many after revealing that he has worn the grey and white uniform for the last 8 consecutive years. The mathematics and geography teacher reiterates that he leads as a role model to his staff members to continually improve the student-teacher relationship though his decision to wear school has attracted mixed reactions from his peers and students.
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[Photo courtesy]
During his two decades of experience, his students have never gone on strike as he tries his best to solve the issues amicably without disrupting learning. Mr Fred reiterated the fact that he has managed to bridge the gap between students and teachers by “being one of them” and this allows his students to confide in him.[Photo courtesy]
Over the years he has managed to stop illegal activities in schools such as drug and substance abuse. Away from wearing the uniform, Mr Fred is also popularly known for his effort to reward high performing students by treating the top three in each class to a sumptuous meal dubbed as the principal’s dinner at a 4-star hotel as well as slaughtering a goat to the best performing class.
