By GASTONE VALUSI
St John Tala High School Principal Dickson Muasya has urged parents to closely monitor their children’s use of mobile phones and laptops, warning against assuming the gadgets are used exclusively for academic purposes.
Muasya spoke on Sunday at Precious Blood Catholic Church in Tala, Matungulu Sub-county, during a Confirmation ceremony led by Machakos Catholic Diocese Bishop Joseph Mwongela. He addressed the congregation on behalf of other school principals who attended the celebration.
“Control your child’s use of phones and laptops. Check what they are doing. Do not assume they are using the gadgets to study,” Muasya said.
He urged parents to remain vigilant about their children’s behaviour and friendships, warning that negative influences could expose them to habits that undermine their education and future.
Muasya said some students fall into bad company during school holidays and adopt behaviours that interfere with their academic progress.
He advised parents to keep track of their children’s whereabouts, monitor their use of digital devices and pay attention to the people with whom they associate.
He suggested that parents assign their children homework to complete during a specific period each day, involve them in household chores and establish routines to keep them occupied during the holidays.
“I ask parents to monitor their children and know their whereabouts and what they are up to,” he added.
The principal also welcomed the elevation of St John Tala High School to C1 status, making it a national school. He said Machakos County now has five national schools.
“We are glad that Tala High School has been made a C1 school, a national school. In the county, we have five national schools. We want to ensure that we deliver quality examination results. We will ensure students get the results they deserve,” he said.
On co-curricular activities, Muasya said the school had performed well in sports, with some students advancing to compete at the East African regional level.
He appealed to parents to pay school fees on time, saying timely payments would help the institution run its programmes smoothly and avoid borrowing money at additional cost.
“Parents, support the school by paying fees so that we don’t have to borrow. When we don’t have fees, we are going to borrow, and the money comes with interest. So parents, do what you can to ensure you pay fees on time,” he said.
The Confirmation ceremony was attended by hundreds of worshippers, parents, teachers and learners.
