Visit to a little school

Now that Swahili classes are over, it is time to get serious about finding something serious to do with my time. I have put out some feelers, and have been doing some thinking about how best to make use of my skills in the short time I have here. In talking to many people and reading about the education system here, I find the hopefulness and faith put into education as a way forward is touching (future blog photo essay on school signs). It seems that primary education (all in Swahili) has about 95% enrolment, but the quality is uneven at best – lots of factors, but the education level and pay of teachers is a big concern. However, the big inequality occurs at the secondary level where all of a sudden all the teaching is in English – many children do not get in because of poor teaching at the primary level and if they do, they often suffer from being taught in English by teachers whose English is minimal at best. From my limited perspective, it seems that the government here is doing well with its objectives at improving the status, education and pay of teachers, and hence the quality of primary education – but it will take time and lots more money. Same goes for secondary education, but in the meantime thousands (millions?) of bright children from poor or rural areas are being denied the opportunities to go on in education, and the country is losing out on all this potential! This is my current thinking, after only 6 weeks in the country.

Main Street Mikadi, Kigamboni District

When Claire, my young VSO friend, met some teachers by chance in a teashop and was invited to visit a small, struggling “English Medium School” in Kigamboni (just across the harbour from Dar, but a ferry ride and a world away – see previous blogs), I encouraged her to go and take me along. So this Tuesday, we braved the ferry (in the process managing to go the wrong way down a one-way street in downtown Dar, and earning a severe lecture from a policeman for it) and managed to find the “Academia English Medium School” in the middle of a sandy little village. English Medium simply means taught in English, but also means that it is privately funded. We were warmly welcomed, even though they had no idea we were coming and the teachers she had met were away that day on a course.

Academia from the outside

The Headteacher Meshack looked like he had been hit by a bolt from the blue (us) – this struggling school with 70 children from nursery age to Standard 5 sees some kind of foreign involvement as the key to success. He would love to see volunteer teachers coming, curriculum materials and of course, donations of money. Within minutes of us arriving, the children were all brought out of their tiny classrooms and assembled in the tiny courtyard. We were given a formal welcome with songs and a dance and of course we had to introduce ourselves. I was quite impressed with the level of English of the songs – one of the lines sung by the Standard 5 children was “Although you come from far away, we will never forget you”. It was obvious that they were prepared for this moment; however in looking around and chatting, it doesn’t seem like they had had any foreigners dropping in yet.

Getting ready to welcome us

Standard 5 getting ready to sing ....

and dance.

The rest of the children

We walked around the tiny classrooms, which looked no better equipped than the state schools I remember from Nigeria 30 years ago and from Kenya. The walls were bare, except for a few tattered hand drawn posters. There were about 3 rows of benches in each class, seating about 20-30 kids. Higher benches serve as desks. I saw no books in the classrooms - I believe each child at least has one notebook, but they must have taken them home.

This little guy had to stay after to finish copying his homework.

Homework - Standard 1

Homework - Standard 2 0r 3

The Headteacher's office reminded me eerily of the old office at Dalhousie Co-operative School, in our old digs at Dal....in fact the whole school had somewhat the same spirit. Rundown, grungy, with few materials, but lots of determination  to get better, lots of idealism and hope.  Meshack talked a lot about "doing something for the local community" - he is looking for government funding to provide lunches for children who can't afford to go home to eat. Although this is a private school, each child only pays about $6 per month (still a considerable sum) and I get the impression there are some non fee-paying students. It was a short visit, but I would like to go back and spend a little more time there, and really suss out what they are doing.

This is the Headteacher's office... there is a "roaster" of teacher duties on the wall, and a copy of the curriculum, which I didn't get to really look at. At the bottom though, it encourages:  "All teachers consider the school prospector for preparing scheme of works and lesson plan. BE STRICTLY OF THAT (sic)" Also in the office was a world map and a shiny new globe - obviously very precious!

This is Meshack, and another teacher. 

Altogether we had a lovely visit, and I want to go back...my dilemma is that it is hard to get to, and I am not convinced that a private school is where I want to spend a lot of time. I'll keep you posted!