At the beginning of this year 2012, St. Zoe
schools decided to launch a new beginning by holding a two-day in-house
workshop for all members of staff, the teaching and non-teaching staff, for the
primary, the secondary, and the soon-to-start vocational school. The event took
place on Thursday 12th and Friday 13th January 2012,
starting at 8.00 a.m. and ending at 6.30 p.m. each day.
On this first occasion, the main aims of
the workshop were, among others: to remind members of their roles and
responsibilities as well as their terms and conditions of service; to analyze
and critically understand their job descriptions, and to discuss issues
concerning the budget of the coming school term.
As point of departure the members of staff
reminded themselves of the VISION, MISSION and GOALS of Kagoma Education
Development Organization (KEDO) of which St. Zoe’s schools are but components. Thus,
the VISION is to be a model and focused center of education, moral values and
general development. The MISSION is to train an all round person capable of
self-reliance. And the GOAL is to provide and promote quality, practical and
affordable education, as St. Zoe schools uplift the educational standards of
learners in the area and outside it.
The workshop then delved into the specific
roles and responsibilities of a classroom teacher, a subject teacher, a section
head, the school secretary, the school nurse and matrons, as well as the school
farm manager, security personnel, support staff, and cooks.
This workshop was an ingenious innovation
that involved the participation of all members of staff, except two who had
travelled far for their Christmas and New Year’s holiday. The workshop was also
conducted in a very cost effective manner, since there was no need to hire
external facilitators. All the facilitators were from within the members of
staff of St. Zoe schools.
The main challenges that were observed during
the discussions revolved around financial limitations which many times have
constrained the smooth running and further progress of the schools. Otherwise
the workshop was evaluated by all participants as a great success which gave
opportunity to everyone to express themselves in a cordial and friendly, but
critical and constructive atmosphere.
As final resolution and way forward, the
members agreed to help each other to implement what they had discussed, and to
create an atmosphere of individual and collective responsibility to ensure the
realization of the vision, mission, and goals of St Zoe schools and of KEDO at
large.
