Schools havean important role to play in helping learners develop and manage their physical and emotional well-being. This, experts say, is the key to students’ personal development. Dancan Musyoki Kimeu, the vice chancellor, University of Rwanda, College of Education, says that institutions should include personal development programmes for students in their schooling curriculum. He says that teachers tend to focus mainly on academic work, forgetting important aspects, like personal development, which can act as a stepping stone for graduates looking to join the workforce. Personal development is when students learn more about their interests and work towards achieving them. During this process, one gets to also build confidence. Importance of personal development Kimeu says that personal development also involves social interaction, developing a healthy mind, body and lifestyle, being able to identify one’s own strengths and weaknesses and, learning how to develop skills. “Personal development for students is important because of the overall benefits, especially when it comes to higher learning programmes. We can’t talk about academic development without including personal development. Universities are supposed to produce a well-prepared individual who will fit in the competitive market,” he says. He adds that this means that academic growth must be supplemented by personal development, so that when a student completes a higher learning course, they have what it takes to be competitive in the job market. Because learners are still in developing stages, Dr Opiyo Andala PHD, Dean - School of Education at Mount Kenya University, says creating good personalities can be achieved. Personal development also involves interaction. File photo. He believes that it’s easier for a student, especially in the early stages, to change habits and attitude if helped by their instructors and parents. “Change in a child’s environment will help improve a learner’s nature. They will develop better personalities and do away with negative behavioural traits,” he says. He adds that in doing so, students will also improve their communication skills, body language, hence, a boost in confidence, among other things. Jacky Irabagiza, a counsellor and matron at Martyrs School in Remera, says that personality development helps groom students to make a mark of their own. She adds that learners should be encouraged to have ‘a style of their own’ and not blindly copy their peers. “To achieve this, teachers should set an example, and encourage each individual’s unique ability. In doing so, students will be better prepared to face the world,” she says. Other skills Opiyo is of the view that personal development fosters discipline and punctuality. He says that students who are not disciplined find it hard to survive in the long run, and this is because they don’t believe in themselves, which is one of the main components of personal development. “When personality development is encouraged, it teaches a students to respect not just their teachers, but fellow students, which is vital as far as education is concerned,” Opiyo adds. Alphonse Habimana, the founder and principal at Kigali Technical Secondary School in Kigali, says students who are not supported when it comes to personal development will always have a bad attitude and find problems in every situation of their lives. Additionally, he says, personal development helps instil positive qualities like punctuality, flexibility willingness to learn, friendly nature, eagerness to help others and many more. “Such students will also be willing to share information with others, and manage their time well, which in the long run will yield positive results in academics and after school,” he says. Habimana notes that personality development plays an essential role in improving students’ communication skills. He says learners should master the art of expressing themselves fluently and respectfully as this will garner appreciation and respect in whatever they do. Tips on how to work on personal development Irabagiza says teachers should help their students develop effective communication skills as this is an interpersonal skill that is required in most fields of employment. “When we talk of personal development we are referring to things like ethics and principles. These things are rarely imparted in class and it’s hard for a student to achieve them when learning is not flexible,” she says. Kimeu says institutions should organise lectures and invite motivational speakers who can talk about these aspects. Also, they should come up with career guidance programmes and have students taken through them. For instance at University of Rwanda, he says, there is a department that focuses mostly on personal skills for students, regarding matters outside the usual academic programme. Lambert Mugisha, an English teacher at St Patrick Kicukiro, says to help students with this, they (students) should ‘understand themselves’ in order to be helped. They should know what they are capable of, as teachers only come in to encourage them to do their best. He says that educators should arrange for students to meet with successful people for inspiration and encourage students to be self-driven. their say Yvonne Teta Karera, Disciplinary teacher For teachers to produce all-round students, they should not focus on grades only, they need to touch all aspects — academics and non-academics. Also, students should be willing to adjust to any change. *********************** John Bosco Niyonkuru, Instructor To broaden students’ experiences, they should be able to balance natural talent and professional needs. Parents and teachers should not only focus on career because it’s not the only part of their lives. *********************** Joseph Jyamubanda, Parent Personal development goes hand-in-hand with extracurricular activities. I think schools should focus more on that. This is because they help a student excel not academically, but in life. *********************** Mireille Gatesi, S5 student All students are different and they require a different approach, so teachers should be willing to go the extra mind to find out about their learners and handle them well without discrimination. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
