So yet another retrospective look at the week…By Thursday, we had finally finished the surveys and had ended up in Nyanza where we met up with Ken (vol who lives there). He had also been on the project but based nearer Kigali. It was good to see him and share our stories about the week. We both agreed the experience had been a real eye-opener…
On Tuesday, we had attempted the road to Mushubi, one of the most remote areas in the southern province, but after 2 hours of driving we decided, reluctantly, to turn back. We could cope with the deep mud but trying to get round a collapsed lorry proved impossible. Diane is Rwandan but lives in Kigali so was quite unprepared for the road conditions and couldn’t believe how people could live here since the only road for any kind of supplies or medical assistance is almost impassable. I guess even though we didn’t get to the school, it was good for her to see this. In fact, if only more people at ministry level could see how some people live, perhaps changes might be made.
In the end we were given another school near to where I work at the district. I had heard about this one- a school of excellence, specialising in science & technology- reminds me of all the ‘specialist’ schools we now have in the UK. On arriving it definitely had an air of confidence about it. We were met by a charming head who was keen to show us the classrooms which were all newly built. In the chemistry lab, the benches were crammed full of equipment laid out and ready to use. Or so I thought…I tried to figure out what the pupils might be studying today but just couldn’t tell-it seemed more like a show room than a working classroom. I was suspicious. I asked the head if I could observe a chemistry lesson since it would be great to see how all this equipment might be used. He looked uncomfortable and explained that the labs were not being used today. When I asked if the pupils select their own equipment for experiments again he looked unsure. I left it. I think the lab is pretty much in the same state every day and the only people who get a chance to touch the Bunsen burners are visitors to the school. The school does really well for results but perhaps this is more due to the pupils selected than the teaching (they all have to have very high marks from primary school to get in). And because of this the government continue to donate the specialist equipment here while other schools get neglected. If only they looked beneath the surface…As it was there was to be no practical application that day and instead I was subjected to an hour of quadratic equations which I still don’t understand :0(
On the last day we had to fit in 3 schools so having stayed over in Butare, I was doing the first observation at 7.00 am. The school was right in the centre of the town and on arrival it was clear it was ‘inclusive’ and therefore rather unique in Rwanda. There were some children in wheelchairs or using crutches and I was informed that there were about 8 deaf pupils. In the ICT lesson which thankfully took place in a suite with computers, I was excited by the fact there was a projector, presumably so the work could be demonstrated to the pupils. I was disappointed therefore when having switched it on to project a screensaver of Paul Kagame (President of Rwanda), the teacher proceeded to use a tiny mobile blackboard to write instructions for the pupils to follow…argghh! Needless to say, he spent most of the lesson going around correcting misunderstandings. I was there to observe but sometimes it’s hard to leave things so I did suggest he make more use of the projector-he could prepare this before the lesson so he had more time in it. The other thing that got to me was that, yes it was an inclusive school because there were obviously children with special needs attending but once again if you looked more closely I wasn’t sure how well these children or other ‘vulnerable groups’ were being served. It was just a small thing but I noticed that the pupils were in pairs and as often happens one is ‘in charge of the mouse’. As a teacher you try and redress this as much as possible. But here partnerships remained static. Where they were girl/boy, the boy was in control and where the pupil had a particular need, the other held the mouse and there was little communication. So whether the equal opportunities, even at this school, really do exist is hard to say. …Anyway, just an observation. The teacher was doing his best and hasn’t had the luxury of training which I take for granted. Hopefully, Mineduc will do something positive with the results.
On the last day we had to fit in 3 schools so having stayed over in Butare, I was doing the first observation at 7.00 am. The school was right in the centre of the town and on arrival it was clear it was ‘inclusive’ and therefore rather unique in Rwanda. There were some children in wheelchairs or using crutches and I was informed that there were about 8 deaf pupils. In the ICT lesson which thankfully took place in a suite with computers, I was excited by the fact there was a projector, presumably so the work could be demonstrated to the pupils. I was disappointed therefore when having switched it on to project a screensaver of Paul Kagame (President of Rwanda), the teacher proceeded to use a tiny mobile blackboard to write instructions for the pupils to follow…argghh! Needless to say, he spent most of the lesson going around correcting misunderstandings. I was there to observe but sometimes it’s hard to leave things so I did suggest he make more use of the projector-he could prepare this before the lesson so he had more time in it. The other thing that got to me was that, yes it was an inclusive school because there were obviously children with special needs attending but once again if you looked more closely I wasn’t sure how well these children or other ‘vulnerable groups’ were being served. It was just a small thing but I noticed that the pupils were in pairs and as often happens one is ‘in charge of the mouse’. As a teacher you try and redress this as much as possible. But here partnerships remained static. Where they were girl/boy, the boy was in control and where the pupil had a particular need, the other held the mouse and there was little communication. So whether the equal opportunities, even at this school, really do exist is hard to say. …Anyway, just an observation. The teacher was doing his best and hasn’t had the luxury of training which I take for granted. Hopefully, Mineduc will do something positive with the results.
School visits
So after a relaxing weekend-managed to fit in a massage at the Golden Monkey-it was back to the office and today I was trying to fit in 5 schools. After a really good meeting on Friday with Marc, he’s actually starting to show interest, I’ve got a pretty hectic schedule for this week. I’m trying to visit 15 schools with the aim of choosing 3 or 4 to work with every week for a term.
Yesterday, I had done four before 11 and as it was a lovely day, I didn’t mind being out and about. I knew where each of the schools was but I only had a vague idea where the last was so just started walking. After about 2 hours of walking, basically up a mountain side, I found it. It was probably the first time they had been visited in ages and the shrieks of delight as I climbed the last bit were more than reward for the trek. In the end the head wasn’t there but I left the letter with the ‘responsable’ and took a tour of the school. I hope they apply. Although it’s far away, it really be a good school to work with.
I’m rushing this as I really need to go now…Have just managed to get the bike again so need to go before anyone else stakes a claim. 4 schools today but they’re pretty far away and I have no idea where they are. But have a few key phrases in my head so what can go wrong?
So after a relaxing weekend-managed to fit in a massage at the Golden Monkey-it was back to the office and today I was trying to fit in 5 schools. After a really good meeting on Friday with Marc, he’s actually starting to show interest, I’ve got a pretty hectic schedule for this week. I’m trying to visit 15 schools with the aim of choosing 3 or 4 to work with every week for a term.
Yesterday, I had done four before 11 and as it was a lovely day, I didn’t mind being out and about. I knew where each of the schools was but I only had a vague idea where the last was so just started walking. After about 2 hours of walking, basically up a mountain side, I found it. It was probably the first time they had been visited in ages and the shrieks of delight as I climbed the last bit were more than reward for the trek. In the end the head wasn’t there but I left the letter with the ‘responsable’ and took a tour of the school. I hope they apply. Although it’s far away, it really be a good school to work with.
I’m rushing this as I really need to go now…Have just managed to get the bike again so need to go before anyone else stakes a claim. 4 schools today but they’re pretty far away and I have no idea where they are. But have a few key phrases in my head so what can go wrong?
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