Mentors are an important part of personal and professional progress. They guide students to follow the right path and support them to enable success. A mentor is defined as a wise and trusted counsellor or teacher.
One would wonder why students need to learn more outside the classroom. And so educationists advise on the role of mentors.
John Mary Musinguzi, the principal at Little Bears Montessori School, says a mentor closely follows the student and identifies their strengths and weakness. This helps to nurture learners’ generally.
He adds that it also helps to identify hidden talents that a teacher may not realise in class. This is because a teacher has so much to do in a very short period (a lesson takes roughly 40 minutes, or 30 minutes in some cases).
Musinguzi says that talents like singing, creative writing, art, among others, may require a mentor and not a subject teacher. Mentors do more, as they follow up with the learner even out of class.
"Mentors help these children develop those talents. They also advise on which one to work on and which one to drop, especially for children who are multi-talented. That’s why we have coaches in games and teachers in charge of clubs in schools. These are some I could refer to as mentors in schools. They know much more about children than the classroom teachers,” he says.
Musinguzi also says that learners need mentors to assist them in steering the intricacies of higher education, and the doubt and expectations of what higher education life has in store.
Mentors can also assist learners to discover and develop their innermost passions, determine their career aspirations, and work with students to achieve them, he notes.
Knight Kuta, a teacher at Mai Childhood Academy, Nyamirambo, says mentoring plays a very important role in students’ learning. Students who have mentors have the potential to become leaders and secure big jobs after their studies.
She explains, mentors guide students to open their eyes to new ideas. Mentoring provides personal support to facilitate success in the learners’ performance.
According to Enos Tumwikirize, a Kigali Parents School teacher, Lairah Gifty Akita, a Ghanaian author, is quoted to have said, "Every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor.” Which is true and so it should apply to all students.
He says great mentors allow students see the light inside themselves by offering guidance. This builds confidence and helps them keep moving.
Musinguzi says, when it comes to networking, mentors are often well-known and respected in their field and community, thus making it easy to connect students to other professionals, internship placements and jobs.
He also points out that mentors are able to clarify the often overwhelming job-seeking and interview processes, and offer first-hand advice on how future graduates can be potential employers. They also have an effect on a student’s career by providing the confidence and skills necessary to thrive.
Musinguzi explains that mentors are an important part in a student’s journey as they not only mould future leaders, doctors and other big professions, but also help them develop strong communication skills so they can handle any situation.
He adds that the aspect of mentors offering an ear, believing in them, recognising and celebrating their successes, is enough to encourage them to speak their minds.
"An effective mentoring relationship is depicted by mutual respect, trust, kindness, and compassion. Good mentors are able to share life experiences, wisdom, and technical expertise. They are good listeners, good observers, and good problem-solvers. They make an effort to know, accept, and respect the goals and interests of a student, thus creating an environment in which the students are able to use their talents to triumph,” Musinguzi concludes.
editor@newtimesrwanda.com