WHERE HAVE ROLE MODELS GONE?

Dec 13, 2021 Irene Lamunu Management 0

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By PROF. VINCENT BAGIRE

Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdowns have indeed taught us many things.
In our organizational life, family and community life, we took many things for granted in the pre-Covid time. Life in other words was normal at a global stance. But for the first time, parents have had longer periods with
children at home, during the lockdown, which has revealed to parents the greater role that teachers play beyond teaching and assessing children in school, in ways subtle to daily normal organizational life. In general, we know that charity begins at home, but, it is molded at school. We are coming to the end of 2021, and the Covid-19 effects on the young generation, outside the confines of school is still taunting parents. The linkage between family and school in not debatable; the two supplement each other. The Church possibly embedded in-between. We certainly know that the balance between the two is necessary. But the excess caused by Covid-19 long periods of closed educational institutions is now the debate
around the role teachers and parents play. It is clear that the cry for many to have schools reopened is not much about children missing studies, the economic aspect of earning aside, it is to do with having children out in school to close gaps of parents handling their own children in a home environment. One key element in education is mentoring and role modelling. Role modelling is demonstrating, displaying and forming
good conduct to others in a sustained pattern of one’s behaviour. Teachers are truly trained to behave in a way that shapes the learners positively. Likewise, at home, the role modelling should be part of family life. But all over, we have heard of cries of children going astray in homes due to lockdown. It is also disturbing that places of worship, another dwelling of
formation, have also been largely out of bounds to children. I am thus bothered, where have the role models gone? Where the individuals whose way of life inspires us are, those who mold our behaviour and
gradually aid us to shape our conduct? In being inspired and influenced,
we thus begin to mature and have a positive broader world view. In work
teams, employees begin to exhibit professionalism. In community, dwellers
shape behaviour; in schools, good conduct is inculcated, and over all, our emotional intelligence ripens. However, why are the youth lacking
in all these – that they lack role models! Have the role models gone, somewhere? In my quick assessment, the role models have “disappeared” due to; technological innovations, money mindedness, and our
social values have been dampened, as the youth are cast between tradition and modernity. They are in a crisis. The parents are thus equally in a crisis. When schools open, this crisis will be sent to schools! However, role modelling can be recreated. You reading this is the starting point; what do you lack to inspire others? Make a self- assessment; training in various basic skills is important. Some parents read the times well and have had their children joining apprenticeships. We also need basic rules.
They may not be written but the youth see them in us. As we end yet another Covid-19 year, its impacts on society will last quite long.
We have talked of the ‘new normal’ that I have steadily said is not yet here, but some abnormalities of doing things. Therefore, let us be conscious, so that we enter a new year, 2022 with hope not lost. Wishing all Leadership loyalists a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

PROF. VINCENT BAGIRE

Associate Professor of management & Deputy Dean, Faculty of Graduate studies and Research at MUBS

email: vbagire@mubs.ac.ug

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