Be happy with your KCPE Grades, there are plenty of opportunities for everyone

The release of KCPE results marks the beginning of the journey to the next level, no matter the grades. New strategies will be needed to keep you shining and achieving your dream. Colins Powell, the first African -American secretary of state observed that “what got you there will not keep you there”. More work is needed to sustain the success beyond primary school level and achieve one’s aspirations. For those of the pupils who got lower marks, there are plenty of opportunities for other secondary schools like day schools where one can still excel. In addition, one can join the technical and vocational training institutes and still be able to work through the ladder to degree and above levels because the government is keen on the recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and alternative ways of accreditation and recognition of efforts. Success does not define you, but you define your success. The modern world has brought up many ways that one can excel in, identify your path and move towards that direction. For both group of pupils, know that as Steve Job observed, if you are crazy enough for success, you will change the world and also acquire more skills like computer literacy skills and people skills that are in high demand nowadays and that includes nine subsets.

The first one is problem solving because of the many problems that lie ahead in life and which you are expected to solve to remain competitive; second is critical for critical analysis and evaluation; third is communication skills because you should be able to communicate freely to get what you want in life; fourth is decision-making, because post primary, you will be expected to choose the right from wrong; fifth is the need for creative thinking, which leads to problem solving skills; sixth is need to develop inter-personal relationship skills such that you will be able to relate well with others as advance your career upwards. Seventh is the self-awareness building skills because the far you will go will be determined by how much you have mastered the self. Eighth is the empathy skills that will enable you to learn and understand people, appreciate and decipher some; and ninth is the coping with stress skills, critical in a world full of stress and challenges. Dr. Mutegi Giti, Urban Manager, Nairobi.