Mang'u High School - Culture and Traditions

Culture and Traditions

In Mang'u there is a famous saying that "there are only two schools, Mang'u and the rest". Other popular sayings are "In Mang'u we make things happen and not just let them happen", "To some greatness is born, to others it is thrust upon them but to Mang'u it is achieved." Another common slogan is "aluta continua". Students are taught to not just be book smart but also sociable. The school has a vibrant cheering squad during sport competitions. Alumni are also very loyal to their alma mater and frequently attend sporting competitions and candidate dedications.

Students are required to be responsible in various duties and chores in the Houses and classrooms.At any time when the bell rings, all students must run to wherever they are going. This culture trains the students to be responsible with time. Every year the most disciplined and responsible students interview to become captains in various areas of responsibility. During Interview Day, no classes are held as all teachers interview the candidates. The School Captain is the most powerful and gives a speech every Friday during assembly. The most famous School Captain was the late Hon. John Michuki who was a Cabinet Minister. The Principal, Deputy Principal and Discipline Master chose the Pentagon. The Pentagon is made up of the School Captain, his Deputy, the Dining Hall captain, his Deputy and the Sports Captain. The pentagon is the highest policy making organ for the students in running the affairs of the school. The House Captains are also essential in managing the affairs of the Houses. They assign duties and give punishments. The Houses compete in every area from cleanliness to drama and music festivals to sports. The most popular prefect is the Entertainment prefect who selects movies for Saturday 'movie nights'. The Captains have certain privileges to compensate the additional work of assisting in managing the students. They are expected to lead by example and be conversant with the school traditions and contribute ideas contained in the Principal's speech.

Alliance High School is a sworn rival of every student from their admission and the goal of every student is to defeat Alliance in every competition and to bring the trophy back home. This rivalry spans from the 1930s and it was just as bad as today. This culture has been passed down over generations. Fights have at times broken out with Alliance students during sporting competitions. Many of Mang'u cheering songs directly mock Alliance.