Education is essential, that’s a given. And so is talent. However, many parents focus more on pushing learners to succeed academically; and school, to them, is only about reading to pass exams. This shouldn’t be the case, schools should also groom talent, be it in sports, music, dance, drama, writing, leadership, art and so much more.
A talent (or gift, or aptitude) is the skill that someone has to do something very well that people usually like but that is difficult for them. It is an ability that someone is born with. People say they are "born with a talent”.
However, on some occasions, talent can be imparted. However, being born with talent still requires practice to perfect the skill.
Michael Koch, a teacher and a country director at Rafiki International School Rwanda, Bugesera, says, everything in life is about sparing sometime, if it really matters. It is teachers’ responsibility to explain to students what they need to learn. This could be by breaking down the academic timetable and allocating some time during the week to do what they are good at. Class time should be strictly for studying and during break hours, students can interact and learn from each other.
"Know why you are in school and why your talent matters. It starts with knowing what you want. When you don’t know what you want, you will not know what to do. If you participate in a discussion group after classes today, tomorrow do an activity, for example, try out your vocals, go for a running race, play basketball,” he notes.
Koch explains that if students want to improve their reading, they should learn to use the library and read more often, it will help them know the facts, keep informed, pass exams, and train them for the future because ‘effective communicators, are efficient readers’.
Aggrey Buhungiro, a teacher at Kigali Parents School, says that nurturing kids with abilities or special gifts starts with their parents; you need to encourage children. If they love to sing, don’t discourage them. Many people have made a life out of singing, with great academic results.
He advises parents to discover what is special in their child(ren); take them to an academy that teaches what they are passionate about, it could be music instruments, like the guitar or piano, among others. Such schools may even offer other lessons in history or literature, among others.
According to Gilbert Nuwagaba, an English and Literature teacher at Maranyundo Girls School, for learners to balance talent and academics perfectly, they do not need to invade the time meant for academics. Talent is not forced; if a student is talented in something and has passion for it, leisure or resting time will be enough for talent development. Therefore, time allocation is important here.
Nuwagaba adds that when a student discovers what they are good at, they will never fail to make time for it. However, there is a discipline required in order to maintain balance.
"Do not turn it into an obsession; for example, getting too attached to soccer that you even skip class because you are in practice. Education and talent need to support each other if you want a bright future,” he says.
Koch says that learners need to have good role models, there are very many people with talent that managed to excel in their academics. Let them get inspired by how they went about it.
"Time management is key to balancing academics and talent development. There needs to be time for each activity indicated on a timetable. Revision time should be respected just like practice. Boarding schools have more time for academics than talent while day schools apply the opposite. If we don’t follow the timetable, we misuse time that cannot be gained,” says John Mary Musinguzi, the headmaster at Little Bears Montessori School, Kigali
Buhungiro explains that if a child is talented in music and is always away for concerts, they might not get time to study. Find teachers to help them whenever they are free so that they catch up. You can even pay for private classes, all they need is extra revision.
"If the school programme is too tight, let the students utilise the holiday. Take them for swimming, basketball or catering practice. Their talent could turn into a profitable business. Never underestimate the power of talent, we have seen many get scholarships and great offers because of their talent,” Buhungiro adds.
editor@newtimesrwanda.com