Sunday 27 February 2011

Musings on education in Tanzania

We have now delivered 6 sessions to teachers and the same number of lessons to students. These have, of course, all been in Don Bosco schools. Education here is either in government schools (with all the problems they bring such as too few poorly trained –if at all –teachers and even less resources) or in private schools. Salesian schools do charge the students but very little in comparison to other private schools. They will also help out any families who are really in need. Some of the schools have been up to Form 4/GCSE equivalent and some have been only sixth form.
The school in Mafinga has about 240 students and is also a seminary. The community told us that less than 5% go on to their sixth form seminary (in Dodoma). There is no pressure put on the boys even though when at school, their day is centred around lessons and religious services.
One of the things that has struck me is how responsible the students are and have to be. They have to clean the school themselves and look after the gardens and surroundings: every afternoon, this is scheduled in to the daily timetable. If you wander around after lunch, you see groups of boys (and girls in the mixed schools) washing the floors, cutting the grass, weeding and even tending to goats, chickens and cows as well as growing maize and other vegetables. Each school tries to be self sufficient. This is not at all forced labour; the students obviously enjoy it and take a pride in carrying out these tasks.  I wonder how this approach would be met by parents and students at home? Personally, I think it is excellent and gives the students a sense of belonging and ownership as well as teaching them to be responsible for themselves. Meal times are organised by the older students and each boy washes up their own eating implements: they also wash their own clothes and always look immaculate! Despite all this Augustine is keen that we return next year to do something on social responsibility! We told him they seem to have it more sussed than we do!
The school year here is very confusing and I’m not sure I understand it properly. Forms 1 to 4 (Key stage 3 & 4 equivalent) start their year in January with exams – whether national or school – in October?November. The holidays are then from November to January. There are only two semesters with the second one being from March to June. Form 4 national exam results are only released in February so they don't start Form 5 (if they go on) until March. They cannot apply to schools to go in to the sixth form until they know whether they have passed. That means that the equivalent of our Lower 6th only have schooling from March to November with a holiday in June. Hmmm think that's right......

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