This archive report was first published on 28 October 2019.
As the academic year comes to a close, many schools are hosting graduations for their playgroup pupils. While these events are often seen as a celebration of the children's progress, they have become increasingly extravagant, with some schools spending large sums of money to make the occasion resemble a university graduation.
But is this focus on pomp and ceremony truly beneficial to the children? Or is it simply a marketing gimmick to attract parents and guardians?
According to Mutethia wa Mberia, writing in the Nyakundi Report on October 28, 2019, the true value of graduation lies not in the ceremony itself, but in the lessons it teaches the children. 'It is at this point in time when they should be taught how to do basic home-based chores for themselves,' he writes. 'Also, academic responsibility should be impressed upon them.'
Wa Mberia also emphasizes the importance of teaching children valuable life skills, such as sharing, protecting the environment, and showing concern for the needy. 'The question of interpersonal relations — especially cementing values such as that of sharing and protecting one another, demonstrable care for the environment, concern for the needy and the underprivileged, patriotic deeds, and many more can lastingly be cemented at this critical stage of growth and development of the child.'
Ultimately, the true value of graduation lies in the lessons it teaches the children, not in the ceremony itself. By focusing on the development of these essential life skills, we can ensure that our children are truly prepared for the challenges of the future.
