Shoot down exams with success cards

By Hilary Bainemigisha
and John Eremu
Examinations start in a few days. Even those of us who have no candidate children cannot miss this information. Many parents are ringing acquaintances, relatives and friends to remind them to send success card to their children. My own share of reminders was enough to conceive this discussion.
But what is so special about a success card anyway?
Francis Eboyu, a lecturer at the Makerere University Institute of Psychology, says success cards actually do motivate students to put in more effort.
“It acts as a reminder to the recipient that somehow you have to succeed. It reminds the student that society is demanding success and nothing less,” Eboyu said.
Dr. Paul Nyende, also a social psychologist at the institute says a success card was one of the ways of expressing affection by the parents.
“It forces a child to show accountability that people are expecting good results. It is a powerful motivator and reinforcer,” Nyende said.
Nyende said since we have gone into this western culture, a child who does not receive a success card feels isolated. “Such a child may develop a spirit of alienation which may impact negatively on his or her performance,” he argued.
But Buganda Minister of Education, Dr. J.C. Muyingo would not hear that.
“Success cards don’t improve performance at all. It is a tradition we adopted from the west which has no meaning at all,” Muyingo said.
“Many of my most successful students did not receive so many cards. Such decorations are common among unserious students,” said Muyingo who is also the head teacher Uganda Martyrs’ secondary school, Namugongo.
Be that as it may, long gone are the days when success cards used to be an issue between a candidate and his/her well-wishers. During our times, we prayed and hoped that as many people would send us cards, which we then displayed around our study desks for purposes of inspiration and challenge. The competition to get the most cards led some others to send themselves cards or send to others in the hope that they would reciprocate.
But parents had nothing to do with this. Many did not even know that after paying school fees, there was something else to spend money on for you to approach your exams with confidence.
Today parents are so concerned about their children’s success in education that they even canvas for success cards from friends. They call, send SMSs and remind acquaintances of their children’s exam time, sometimes insinuating the need for a card, other times demanding for it directly or reminding you of the card they sent your child once upon a time.
I know one Rovina who bought several cards and sent them under different names of her relatives, parents and friends who were not even consulted.
“I wanted my boy to feel like the whole family is with him, ready to cheer his success,” she confesses.
Even away from the school exam, many mothers want to know the people who sent their children success cards. This does create a new bonding or takes the relationship to a higher level.
The impression is that when the child is confronted by so many vivid challenges from people he/she esteems so highly, it becomes a challenge to perform. Yes, my ancestors used to say that good encouraging words can be enough to bring a snake out of a hole.
When Olivia called me about her P. 7 son, I asked her what miracles she associates with the success card. “I want him to know that his uncles and aunts are looking forward to his success. Maybe it can add him more determination.”
“My child is actually expecting the cards”, said one Margaret. “She will be disappointed if she doesn’t get and I don’t want this to affect her performance.”
Her daughter is in senior four and has been talking of how many cards her elder brother got. Generally, success cards do not bring success where no conscious effort has been deployed. But they sure matter very much as a social back up. Sending a card is a non-profit expense that has far reaching implications.
A non-relative, who sends your offspring a success card, is a friend indeed. It could also be a trend result of modernity.
Rev Joel Mpuriza, a sociology research student on families attributes this to increased exposure.
More parents are getting enlightened by closer association with those who value success cards.
Ends