If you want to conquer the world, the strongest weapon to do so is education. This is fully anchored in the words of the former president of South Africa, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela. Education revolves around several broad aspects. Effective outcome of education is depicted through discipline.
Discipline in this context refers to an individual’s behavior in society in accordance to the rules and regulations put in place in any given society, in order to make living environment favourable. Without discipline, organizational achievements will never be met. Discipline is widely acknowledged to be essential in creating a positive climate which is conducive to sound performance of every establishment. In the school set up context, a disciplined student is that student whose behaviors and actions conform to predetermined rules and regulations of the school. Simatwa (2012) in his article on management of students discipline in secondary schools in Kenya, observed that head teachers used a variety of methods in the management of students discipline in schools. These methods among others included caning, expulsion, reprimanding, firing, self-commitment in writing and guidance and counselling.
Today’s world has become so dynamic. Some of the methods of disciplining have become retrogressive in our community and the wider society. From the ECDE level, the approach in discipline management has totally been rejuvenated. The new curriculum establishment of CBC has really streamlined the issue of discipline in a forcelessness method. The competence-based approach is in itself a discipline streamlining method. We deviate from the norm in order to do what we enjoy most. This in a way makes us go against the laid down regulative structure. Children at ECDE level play skits together, sing together, clean together, eat together and nap together. From a very tender age they build a well-disciplined consistent classroom community. Children learn, behave and do what they enjoy most. As a result of this awareness, the County Government of Nyandarua, under the leadership of H.E. Dr. Moses Kiarie Badilisha has and continue to enforce strong ECDE foundation in all the 501 centers across the county. This is through establishment of modern ECDE classrooms with modern equipment. This is fully enshrined in the social pillar of his manifesto.
Drama and discipline are strongly compatible. Drama is a symbolic language and through it, people have represented the real world for many years. It has been found to be instrumental both to the behavioral modification of students and academic performance. In drama we have; drama strategic rules and regulations, and drama skills emanating from different genres. In a research I did in 2021 on ‘’ Drama participation as a strategy in the management of discipline among students in central region, Kenya,’’ it was found out that: i) drama skills could help in regulating student’s behavior, ii) drama practice effected positively on discipline of communication development, iii) drama strategic rules and regulations encouraged a culture of discipline in punctuality, orderliness/cleanliness, attentiveness and preservation of institutional property. Through this realization, H.E. The Governor Dr Moses Kiarie Badilisha ‘s government has fully supported drama activities in the county. This year, the county has been well represented at the Kenya National Drama and Film festival by Milangine Vocational Training Centre with a play, cultural creative dance, dramatized choral verse, a narrative and a dramatized solo verse. Arrangements are at a high gear to fully incorporate ECDE centers in Nyandarua County, in the annual drama and film festival as this is fully in line with cultural aspect advancement and awareness.
Education, discipline and drama are inseparable.
Dr. Pachomius Wambugu,
Chief Officer,
Department of Education, Children, Gender Affairs, Culture and Social Services
