Organising a prize-giving day that actually motivates students

Prize-giving day is a long-standing tradition in Kenyan schools, but its impact varies enormously depending on how it is designed. A prize-giving day that recognises the same handful of top academic performers year after year can inadvertently demotivate the majority of students who never see themselves reflected in the recognition. A well-designed prize-giving day motivates the whole school, not just its highest achievers.

Broaden what gets recognised

Academic excellence deserves recognition, but a school that recognises only top mean scores misses an opportunity to motivate students who excel in other genuine, valuable ways. Consider categories for most improved student per class, outstanding effort and attendance, leadership and character, sports and co-curricular achievement, and contribution to school community — alongside academic prizes. This spreads recognition across a much wider group of students, each of whom becomes a positive example for their peers.

Most improved matters as much as top performer

A "most improved" award, given per class or per grade rather than only school-wide, recognises the student who moved from a BE to an ME, or from position 30 to position 15 — often a far more significant personal achievement than the student who was already at the top and stayed there. Students respond strongly to seeing genuine effort and growth celebrated, not only innate ability.

Involve parents meaningfully

Prize-giving day is one of the highest-attendance parent events of the year. Use the opportunity not just to hand out prizes but to communicate school achievements, upcoming plans, and genuine appreciation for parent partnership over the year. A brief, well-prepared address from the principal that reviews the year honestly — including challenges, not only successes — builds trust more than a purely celebratory tone.

Make the event well-organised and dignified

A prize-giving day that runs significantly over time, with a disorganised programme, undermines the seriousness of the recognition being given. Careful planning of the programme flow, clear time allocations for each segment, and a professional, well-rehearsed MC contribute more to the event's impact than the scale of the prizes themselves.

Follow up with genuine documentation

Photographs and a brief write-up of the event, shared with parents via WhatsApp and potentially your school's social media, extend the impact of the day beyond those who attended in person, and create a positive record that reinforces the school's culture of celebrating achievement broadly.

Use the moment to reset expectations for the year ahead

Prize-giving day, often held toward the end of the academic year, is a natural moment to look forward as well as back — briefly outlining priorities for the coming year gives the event a sense of momentum rather than being purely a closing ceremony.