Meaning of the school motto

A school motto is a word, statement or phrase that describes the main aim or goal of the school. It guides learners, teachers and parents to know what they are expected to do.

The school routine

A school routine is the programme followed by the school everyday, week, term and year. The school routine is usually shown on the school timetable. Other activities that make up the school routine include: the drama festival, music festival, games and athletics.

The school routine varies from school to school and from day to day. The activities depend on whether or not it is a day or a boarding school.

Importance of the school routine

  A school routine helps in saving time, creates order in the day to day activities in school, helps pupils and teacher to plan and prepare early and helps in assessing the pupils’ and teachers’ workload.

An example of a school routine is given below

• 7.00 - 8.00 am Pupils arrive in school
• 8.00 am The bell rings. Pupils and teachers go for the morning assembly
• 8.15 am Lessons begin
• 9.30 - 9.50 am first break
• 9.50 am Lessons continue
• 11.00 am Second break
• 11.30 am Lessons continue
• 12.40 pm Lunch break
• 2.00 pm Afternoon lessons begin
• 3.10 pm End of lessons
• 3.10 - 4.10 pm Games, clubs, societies, preps
• 4.10 pm Children depart for home

School administration

A public school is administered through the following:

• District Education Board.
• School Management Committee.
• Parents-Teachers’ Association.
• Head teacher.
• Teachers.
• Prefects.

Administration of private schools is set up by the owners of the schools.

District Education Board (DEB)

The DEB is composed of the following officers, all of whom are appointed by the Minister of Education;

• The DC - Chairman.
• The DEO - Secretary.
• Three people nominated by the local school managers in the district.
• Clerk to the local council.
• One person nominated by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT).
• One person nominated by the Ministry of Education.

The responsibilities of the DEB include the following:

• Planning and development of educational activities.
• Planning school finances.
• Administering funds received from the Ministry of Education.
• Accounting for all the funds received.

School Management Committees

A school committee is responsible for the administration of a primary school. Members of the school committee include the following:

• The headteacher.
• Three members nominated by the DEB
• A religious leader (based on the religion of the majority of the students) or a sponsor.
• Eight people elected by the parents of the school.

The chairperson is elected by members of the school committee.

Functions of a school management committees

This committee is responsible for:

• Admission of pupils into the school.
• Development of the school.
• Co-ordinating school activities with the DEB.
• Maintaining the school tradition, for example, keeping in touch with the sponsors if it is a former mission school.

Parents Teachers association (PTA)

This is an association of both parents and teachers of a given school. They help to strengthen the functions of the school especially in the expansion of school facilities.

Head teacher

The head teacher is in charge of the overall day to day management of the school. Roles of a head teacher include:

• Administration of the school.
• Discipline of staff and students.
• Ensuring that the timetable is adhered to.
• Ensuring that the correct learning facilities are available in school.
• Preparing and controlling the school budget
• Ensuring careful use and maintenance of school facilities.

• Ensuring that teachers are available on time and are teaching as expected.
• Supervision of the support staff.
• Punishing students who break school rules.
• Delegating responsibilities.

He is assisted by a deputy head teacher. Roles of a deputy head teacher include:

• Preparing the time table.
• Preparing teachers’ duty roster.
• Acting as secretary during staff meetings.
• Being in charge of school discipline.

Teachers

Teachers are important officers within the school. They take on the responsibilities of the head teacher when called upon.

This is because of the following reasons:

• They are entrusted with pupils while they are in school.
• They prepare lessons.
• They assess and grade pupils’ class work.
• They prepare pupils for school and national examinations.
• They mark pupils’ work.
• They help in preparing students to take part in co-curricular activities like drama, music, games and debate.

A kenyan teacher

• In boarding schools, teachers help to supervise pupils during meals, preps and cleaning.
• They are expected to be good role models.
• They punish pupils who break school rules.
• They maintain discipline in the school.
• They encourage pupils.
• They provide Guidance and Counselling services in order to help pupils to cope with various problems.
• They conduct remedial lessons for the weaker learners.

Prefects

These are students given responsibility by the head teacher and the staff. They are usually chosen from pupils of good character, who are hardworking, reliable and honest.

If weaker learners are chosen, it becomes difficult for them to cope with class work. Prefects are an important link between the student’s body and the school administration.

Prefects understand pupils better than teachers, and are therefore, able to present pupil’s problems better to those in authority. In case of problems, they report to the authority and attempt to find an amicable solution.

Importance of school administration

• It makes sure that a school has a time table that enables learning and other school activities to run smoothly.
• It ensures that the pupils are disciplined.
• It ensures that pupils’ needs are met.
• It ensures that the school has facilities such as classrooms and books that are necessary for learning to take place.
• The school is able to receive and send information to the ministry in charge of education through the administration. For example, if there is a change in the subjects to be taught.
• Administration makes sure that the school has enough teachers for all classes.
• It makes sure that the school property is safely kept.

The role of school in community development

• Skills and knowledge passed to pupils develop the community.
• Good morals taught to pupils therefore enhance harmony.
• It promotes and preserves good cultures of the community.
• The school provide job opportunities to some members of the community. 
• School buildings and compound is sometimes used by the community for some functions.
• The school shapes the destiny of the community.
• Pupils and teachers participate in community development projects. For example, charity walks and conserving the environment.

The role of the community in school development

The local community living around the school plays an important role in the development of the school. Members of the community do this by participating in the following ways:

• Some community leaders are members of the school committee.
• People living in and around the school always turn up for development meetings and give views on how to improve standards of education in the school.
• Some community leaders donate money to the school to be used as bursaries for needy students.
• Members of the community approach non-governmental organisations to give financial assistance to the school.

The role of the community in school development

• When Harambee fundraising meetings are held, community members attend and give their contributions.
• Members of the community turn up to provide labour for activities like tree-planting, fencing the school to make it more secure and laying water pipes.
• The local community helps to provide security for the school.
• They participate in activities planned and organised by the school. Such activities include a clean up exercise, observing the World Environmental Day and anti-malaria campaigns.
• They provide land for the building or expansion of the school.