Reflecting on Graduation from High School

It has been 30 years since I walked out of the gates of high school at Kafue Secondary
School in December 1985. Then I was a young teen at 17 years old. With so much hope
for the future in terms of education and all! I had dreams of pursuing a career in Science
but through Gods providence my career path was in Education after I went to do a
Bachelors degree in Education at the University of Zambia, majoring in Mathematics and
doing a minor in Computer Studies. So then what are my thoughts of my days at
secondary school that culminated in my graduation from Kafue Secondary School with a
motto: Citizens of Two Kingdoms?
Firstly, my entry into form 1 at Kafue Secondary School in 1981 was marked with some
anxiety. For the first time, I would have to spend at least three months away from my
parents and siblings. Would I cope? Mind you in those days, mockery at boarding schools
was a given. Would I be mocked and bullied in such a way that I would fail to stay on at
boarding school? Thankfully, a form 2 by the name of Musonda Kabemba liked me and
became my protector! He was a cadet and so the other form 2s could not mess around
with me. Off course, I had to show appreciation, so when my dad brought me some
supplies such as well prepared beef and chicken I shared with him :-). I quickly settled
into the routines of boarding life. Cleaning hostels (inside and outside) including
classrooms. Interestingly, most boys did not like to be assigned to clean the toilets. They
used them but didnt want to clean them. Mmm.
Secondly, the positive influence of religion at Kafue Boys cannot be missed. Our school
being a mission school run by the United Church of Zambia, we had to have bible
readings and prayers daily except Saturdays. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
these were held in the School Chapel. On Tuesdays we had devotions in our respective
classes. On Fridays we had them in our various houses. In addition, Religious Education
(RE) was compulsory in all classes. One of my close friends, Christian became a
Christian after our Bible Knowledge teacher, Carol Eathorne, made an appeal to students
to not only acquire head knowledge of the Bible but give their lives to Christ. I became a
Christian after listening to a visiting preacher Joe Imakando preach on the necessity of
Being Born Again from John 3. To God be the glory. Clubs such as Scripture Union
(which I was actively involved in), School Choir, Preachers Club, Sunday School played
a useful role in developing religious disciplines.
Thirdly, a culture of hard work was embedded into our lives at school. I have mentioned
earlier on how we had to clean our respective spaces in the hostels and classes. Students
also were active at the school farm which had lots of vegetables and wheat! The culture
of hard work also extended to academic work. For some time Kafue Secondary School
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was one of the top performing schools in Zambia. I recall in 1985 when we were about to
sit for our School Certificate exams and being asked by one of our teachers if we would
do very well. Our response was that doing very well was guaranteed. Beating Roma Girls
in Lusaka was our goal. And that goal was achieved! Kafue Boys had among the best
teachers in Zambia with a balanced combination of local and international teachers
mostly from church missionary organisations. The teachers were committed to their jobs
and us as pupils inside and outside the classroom. Whether they were performing the role
of teacher, house parent, form teacher, preacher etc they put in their best. They ensured
we were adequately prepared for our examinations and in a spiritual sense for the Final
Examination! Some of the teachers I recall who had a positive influence on me were: Mr.
David Grogan, Mr. Tom Marshall, Miss Junza Siafwa, Mrs. Carol Eathorne, Mr Stephen
Winter, Mr. Derryck Orridge, Mrs. Siluyele to mention just a few.
30 years on! Kafue Secondary School, opened in 1966 as a Secondary School, is still
standing and contributing to the Education Agenda in Zambia. I thank God for enabling
me pass through the doors of that school. I thank God for the many lessons I learnt there.
The friends I made: Christian, Johnson, Barnabas etc. For the knowledge I gained there.
But most important of all for the salvation I found in Christ there.