How I outfoxed the deep state to close school early

Although I have been sidelined in many important school matters as a result of the Handshake between Bensouda and Kuya, I still believe that I have the people and God behind me.  I mean I have a majority of teachers and practically all the students behind me, and can thus face anyone, any system, any deep state.

As the term progressed, I said it was wrong to close the school on December 23, just two days to Christmas. I mentioned this in a staffroom meeting on the week I returned from self-isolation.

“No, we have to close on 23rd,” said Kuya. “This is the day the government prescribed and we cannot go against Magoha’s orders. So we will begin exams on December 14 to 16, then we use the next three days to mark in readiness to close on 23rd.”

“That is impossible Kuya,” I told him. “You need no calculator to know that no student will be concentrating after Jamhuri Day.”

 I then suggested that we start exams on Monday, December 7 so the report forms would be ready by 17th.

“This school calendar was drawn by the minister,” said Kuya. “If you want to change, you have to seek exemption from the ministry!”  I asked Kuya to ask other teachers what they thought.

Everyone, even Nzomo, who is always in Kuya’s corner, was supporting early closure. “I need to travel back to Nunguni for Christmas,” she said. “Don’t expect me to travel on 24th, it will be madness.” Lena too supported closing on 18th. She even added that she saw no need to give the children exams. “Corona has tested everyone to the limits; I see no need to give the students another test.”

Final decision

In the end, Kuya said the final decision on closing would be made by Bensouda, the HM.  “Bensouda already closed school,” said Mrs Atika, “She wouldn’t care about us since she is at home anyway.” She went on. “I would understand why you can’t make a decision on that, you have no powers. Instead of waiting for the HM, the Deputy HM is here – he can make that call.”

Kuya was angry after being told that he had no powers, so in the next staff meeting, which the HM attended, he brought up the matter.

“Some teachers, led by Dre, would like the school to be closed on 23rd, but I propose that we start the exams early, and close on 18th at the latest,” he said without batting an eyelid.

Bensouda supported early school closure, and ordered that exams begin early as I had proposed. “Leadership is about taking a stand on important matters regardless of what the ministry ordered,” said Bensouda. “I am happy I have a leader helping me lead this school.” I did not say anything, I just wanted us to close early, and did not care if credit went to Kuya. Once this was agreed, Bensouda left us to organise everything else. Kuya wanted the exams to begin on 1th to 15th.

He even suggested some exams be done on Saturday.  But we all told him off on Saturday.

“We know you separated with Nzomo, so if you have nothing to do at home on weekends, we have a lot to do. If you want to come on Saturday, you will come alone.” The exams began on Monday 7th, and ended on Thursday.

 Other than Saphire, the teachers were ready with marks and report forms by last Monday morning. But there was a problem. Kuya said we had to wait for the HM to come and sign the report forms. He promised that Bensouda would come on Tuesday.

But she never showed up.

 On Thursday morning, I asked all the teachers to bring their report forms for me to sign. As the bona fide Deputy HM, I have powers to sign the forms in the absence of the HM. I spent that afternoon signing them. And you all know how I do it. Unlike Bensouda who writes “Well done, Keep it up” to all good performers, and “Pull up your socks” to poor performers, my comments were creative, academic and unique. This stellar execution deserves accolades…, kudos for another spectacularly splendid showing…, keep soaring with the eagles…, are some of the comments I wrote for good performance. As for the poor performers, I was more creative – a wretched future awaits you unless you pivot, what an atrocious show this is…, in the fullness of time, you will rue squandering this opportunity...”

Christmas mood

In the meantime, it was increasingly becoming difficult to manage the children with no classes ongoing, and Christmas mood having set in. Many were not even coming to school. Once I was done signing the report forms, I called for a staff meeting on Thursday afternoon. Kuya was away, but together with other teachers, we resolved to close school the next morning, with or without Bensodua’s blessings.

Kuya wrote in the staffroom Whatsapp group that he hoped the HM would come on Friday morning to start signing the report forms. The next morning, I officially closed the school. The students went home singing my name while the teachers said they wished I were the HM.

At around noon, we received a Whatsapp message from Kuya saying that Bensouda would be coming to school to sign the reports on Monday, December 21, and that the school would close a day after. We were already home by that time.

I was not afraid of any consequences as I knew that lazy Bensouda would be happy to hear that she needs not come to school tomorrow, and that there will be no reports to sign (she hates that job). But in case of any issue, I am ready to handle it in January. In the meantime, Merry Christmas everyone!

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