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| Photo Courtesy| Elvis Ogina |
In Kenya, a silent struggle rages on as adolescents are pushed to their limits, attending school with early morning start times. Kenyan teens are working themselves to exhaustion. As a teen in Kenya, especially in boarding schools, early mornings are just a way of life. You’re told you need to work hard to succeed, so you push through the fatigue hoping for the best.
Scientific studies have pointed out that teenagers naturally have later sleep schedules. So, forcing them to wake up at the crack of dawn is completely counterproductive.
Teens and sleep patterns
Teens need more sleep, simple as that. Most teens can’t fall asleep before 10 p.m., even when they get in bed earlier. Waking up at the ungodly hour of around 5 a.m. for school means that most teens get an average of 6 hours of sleep contrary to the recommended 8 hours.
Such a schedule is a challenging ordeal even for adults, and it underscores the sheer physical and mental toll that early school start times exert on these young learners. It is time to recognize the inherent injustice in subjecting children to such premature awakenings.
Insufficient sleep impairs teenagers' memory, cognitive performance, and decision-making. It leads to a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and obesity. By now, it should not be a surprise why teens are often moody, irritable, and unable to focus in class after little sleep.
Research conducted by Kasuke Okano from Waseda University showed that teens who get adequate sleep have better memory, problem-solving ability, and higher test scores.
Implementing later school start times
Most schools in Kenya start around 7 a.m., those in boarding schools may start as early as 5:30 a.m. This early start time goes against teenagers' natural circadian rhythm. Parents and guardians can attest to their struggles in waking up their children.
Implementing later start times in Kenya won’t be easy, but the benefits to students will be substantial. The learners will gain an extra hour or two of much-needed slumber allowing them to be more focused and engaged during the day.
Some schools which have implemented later start times have seen huge benefits. Grades go up, tardiness and absences go down. The teens are more engaged in activities. While logistical issues exist, teens' health and success should be a focal point for education reform in Kenya.
Whereas the cultural attitudes about sleep and productivity may need to shift, existing scientific evidence shows that later start times promote teens’ health, development, and learning. The challenges of implementation are surmountable, but the rewards of well-rested students are lifelong.
In one study, a small school district in Kentucky, USA delayed start times from 7:30 a.m. to 8: 30 a.m. for middle and high school students. Within a year, attendance rates increased by a staggering 50 percent. Grades also went up significantly suggesting that later start times allow learners adequate sleeping time.
Productivity vs Busyness culture
Many Kenyans suffer from a culture of busyness over productivity. This is reflected in the pupils in school as well. This culture seeps into classrooms as teachers prioritize completing the syllabus even during brief breaks, and lunchtime, leaving students without an opportunity to recharge let alone taking a nap.
We have allowed a culture of being busy without being productive to become the norm for far too many kids. Being busy means little without the energy and clarity to achieve. Schools that value true productivity will enable students to rest and rejuvenate their minds and bodies.
Sleep specialists and educators globally have emphasized the importance of adequate sleep for adolescent development. Dr. Matt Walker, a renowned sleep specialist, underscores that sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, decision-making, and emotional well-being in teenagers. In addition, forcing adolescents to adhere to early start times is detrimental to their physical and mental health.
Professor Laurence Steinberg, an expert in adolescent psychology, underscores the impact of sleep deprivation on the teenage brain. She explains that during adolescence, the brain undergoes significant changes, and sleep is essential for cognitive development. Early school start times disrupt this crucial phase of brain development, resulting in lower academic achievement and increased risk of mental health issues.
It’s time for Kenya to take a hard look at school start times and make a change. Our teens deserve a healthier start to their educational day, one that respects their natural sleep patterns and nurtures their growth and well-being.
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