It is another phase for over 1 million students joining secondary schools starting today. Having satisfactorily completed the initial eight-years, the culmination of which was the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam, the students are now set to join a higher level of education.

The four years in secondary schools is a critical stage for every learner. Unlike primary schools, which involve basic learning on physical, mental and internal growth, secondary school is about developing learners for higher education.

Here, learners are, among other things, moulded to know their career paths and to become responsible people beyond secondary school life.It is also a critical time for parents to be on the look out for their teenagers because peer pressure is at the highest at secondary school level.

In the last few years, the effects of what is believed to be peer pressure have been evident in most secondary schools.

Quite a number of schools have reported cases of unrest, with parents having to pay so much to rebuild what students destroy as they protest.

Mental health problems are not a problem for adults or those in society with enormous responsibilities only. Teachers and parents alike should be involved in the non-academic life of these learners to identify tell-tale signs of mental issues and address them in time to forestall disasters.

As they get to their new environment, we urge learners to concentrate on what is required of them, to maintain the highest level of discipline.

This also goes out to all secondary school learners, there is a lot to learn with little time so it will be easier to deliver if they cooperate.

The 2022 calendar year is one of the shortest there ever has been in the school’s history so there is no time to waste. The packed diary will also come with its share of pressure so managing the stresses is also of paramount importance.

Everybody goes to school alone and will leave alone. Learners come from different backgrounds and focus should be about empowering themselves for a better future.

They also should remember that acts of criminality in school will come to haunt and dent their careers in the future. All stakeholders including teachers, parents and spiritual leaders are asked to join hands to instill good values in children. Learners should be careful not to yield to peer pressure. Remember that time lost cannot be recovered.