The A-Z of preparing faithfully for exams through Fr. Munyaneza's eyes

By Stephen Ssenkaaba

Fr. Hilary Munyaneza loves ideas. I have seen him take off time his busy schedules to share knowledge since his days as a major seminarian.

You would be mistaken to think that Fr. Munyaneza engages on spiritual and theological matters alone. No.

As a very good student right from his minor seminary years, he continues to exhibit a wide ranging awareness about pertinent issues in our society today. It is one such issue that informs the subject of his latest book: The A-Z of preparing faithfully for examinations.

The 58-page book offers advice to people at different levels of education on how to prepare themselves well for academic exams.

It is a simply crafted work woven around the letters of the alphabet upon which the author bases his counsel on life-lessons.

For instance: A is for Acceptance. Here Munyaneza writes: “Acceptance is the ability to see a given situation as it is without trying to escape from it or push it aside. This means that in acceptance, we admit the situation and if it is a challenge, then we find positive means to overcoming that challenge,”

Through such simple advice, Munyaneza inspires the reader to reflect on issues that we encounter or have encountered during preparations for exams.

His advice extols important virtues such as Hope, nobility, vision, zeal and how they should be applied as we make final touches for exams.

He however stretches the narrative further. He implicitly challenges the reader to think beyond the walls of the classroom, suggesting without obviously stating it that daily living is an ongoing examination to which we need to apply the mentioned values to be able to successfully go through.

This makes his work relevant to all people in and out of the school setting. Whether you are a manager at the office; the coach of a national team; a cleaner in some office or a parent at home, somehow this book speaks to you as you negotiate life’s ongoing tests and examinations.

Munyaneza writes in simple, accessible English, making his work understandable even to a primary school child and lending a universal appeal to his message. Each section starts with a quote from the World’s inspirational figures or a Biblical allusion, providing much needed inspiration to the reader and a richer context to this work.

Being only 58 pages also means you can read this book in one sitting- on the taxi back home, during tea break at work- anywhere.

The book has been well received by different people. “Inspiration and motivation are the two basic ideas that Fr. Hilary has creatively rhymed in this book. It is worth reading,” Dr. William Muhairwe, expert in management training said of this book.

“The A-Z goes beyond preparing for academic examination to explore the opportune use of resources and environment to unleash potential on the road to self-definition. In your hands is a lucid guide for those who seek to excel at examinations the school sets and life presents,” Msgr. Dr. Lawrence L. Ssemusu, of Makerere University Business School said.

This book can be obtained from different bookstores around town.