Saturday 20 January 2007

catch up - tues 16th jan

I was in the school library (3 bare looking shelving units with a lot of innaproprrate book donations, eg 'Tabitha Goes to the Mall', well not quitethat but you get my drift, nonsensical western cultural references). The teacher's come here to prepare their lessons; i gather there are about 9 core staff, all are volunteers, they get some 'compensation', as they call it, sometimes but it is the equivelent of a few pence per month. I so admire these men and women, they have such pride tryibng to teach a Ghanaian cirriculum with little or no resources (some with little training) to children tierd and hungry, in impossible heat, in huge class sizes in tiny rooms, but they turn up every day because the alturnative is what? hawking cheap goods? going on the hussle? hanging around all day with no focus or purpose? These people have made a selfless promise to these children and the kids battle all odds to turn up every day, they come in a variety of conditions, som some without breakfast, some without shoes or books to write in but most still have pressed and clean uniforms, (the Liberians here are so proud of their apperances, they put the vols to same, despite the atrocious conditions of living and poverty the women have 'beauty salons' and most are spotless.) Han said she has witnessed a boy - Chancy - sent out of class for bad behaviour who then spent the whole class lent against the room 'window'outside trying to see the board and follow the class. if children are late they are sent away (which is harsh i think, maybe one or two periods, ok) but some will just sit outside the small metal gate for hours, so depressed, (remember these are nusery and primary kids). Teaching ability varies; I witnessed an inspirational command of a class in fraction addition, but there are other very dry classes; with no teaching aids, a blackboard created from ordinary black paint on the wall so it's hard to read from and write on, no practical equipment for science classes, some kids just listening with nothing to take notes on, they learn alot by rote without a real comprehension or understanding. they when asked if they understand they will chorus "yes" just to please, with only the most confident asking questions - it's a real battle. of course staff may teach classes ina subject they have no knowledge of but they will revfer to a basic kids work book from the 'library' and regurgitate the text word for word. they are all doing their very best, but coming from a free education system with all that we take for granted, it's, it's ... well you know.

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