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jojo
United Kingdom
40 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Aug 2006 : 14:44:58
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| You know I'm not so sure of that. I am old enough to remember the horrible rote learning though! Teachers here often have to cope with classes of between 25 and 30, and with mixed year groups as well. I was just reading about the difficulties some teachers have in small schools coping with a literacy hour when there are children aged from 4 - 7 in their class. Also - the equipment - what kids need is space - and the schools tend to stuff as many desks in as they can - and imprison the children behind them. Have you any idea of the quality of teacher training in Gambia? I know there is a teacher training college there. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2006 : 14:58:10
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Quality of teacher training in Gambia is poor, they pay high fees, they study hard and then go into badly paid jobs. they are dedicated to their profession.
You have to remember that in Gambia uptil 7, school is not compulsory, so some teachers have children who come into scholl with the basic abc.
I admire the teachers in Gambia, as for classrooms, i have seen a small "school" where the teacher sits with a children outside on the grass and teaches them with a board, at the beginning let them their ABC.
I am unhappy about the pressure put on parents in Gambia to have uniform etc. some manage, some it is a barrier to entry. Some schools work with the their parents they say" send your child and as soon as you can afford the unifrm buy it but do not go into debt".
such a positive attitude. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2006 : 15:30:28
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I paid for the uniform for Kolior Nursery School. I wasnt sure it was the best use of limited money, but that is what THEY wanted the money to be spent on. They said it is an encouragement to the children to come to school, because they get it free and they like to wear it. Also it means that children who dont go are easily identified in the community and they can encourage the parents to bring them. The proof is that many more children now go to the nursery.
JOJO the classes can be 50 plus children in a room like a cow shed with an untrained, but very committed teacher, who isnt being paid by the government. They do rote learning (and still beat the children) out of necessity. It is crowd control.
One day I hope to spend a year there and I would love to teach the english foundation stage curriculum to these children, with ammendements for the cultural and geographical differences. WHat a challenge that would be!!!  |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2006 : 15:38:08
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I think the government should PAY nursery teachers.
I also think the government should provide a free school lunch for children aged 3 -7 as an encouragement to go. The saddest thing I heard is that children whose parents dont pay have to sit and watch the others eat, but arent allowed any food themselves. Life is tough sometimes!!!
CHILDREN are the countries future. CHILDREN who are educated will be the momentum for change. The government needs to STOP a while and think about its projects and think where money will be usefully invested and pay itself back. Time and time over investment in early years education has proved its self to be worth it in all sorts of ways.
One way is that whilst the children are at nursery the mother can be gardening or sewing and making a little money for her family.
Another is the children will be noticed early if they are malnourished or ill or being abused at home. At the nursery I help, they weigh the children regulary and work in conjunction with the health workers.
It is about SO much more than ABC!!! |
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jojo
United Kingdom
40 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2006 : 16:04:01
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| Gambiabev - just logged on back quickly to let you know that what you are doing is brilliant - and Ranga. But you already read my posting! Yes - I have seen classes of 60 - but still - they were trying their best to give the oldest children a better start in the lower basic school, so reduced that class to 25, and then all the other children had to be stuck together in a class of 60. I thought it was bad organisation - and will just keep self perpetuating. There were other ways around it. Like opening in the afternoon. I never understand why the classrooms are often empty in the afternoon. Paying the teachers must be one problem, but often the parents refuse to send their children in the afternoon, its not very popular. I DO agree with you about devising some sort of culturally relevant curriculum. Then, even an untrained teacher could follow some sort of "plan". |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 11 Aug 2006 : 18:08:20
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| JOJO are you a teacher? Where do you visit in Gambia? |
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ranga
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2006 : 07:57:18
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| gambiabev, jambo, jojo, thank you for your support and encouragement. I look forward to shipping more Geopacks to dedicated teachers in Gambia. All of us seem to be coming at the same answer "education" from different viewpoints through different reasoning. I've read that school lunches make schools very attractive to children. |
T.K. "Ranga" Rengarajan
Founder, Geoseed Project
http://www.geoseedproject.com
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2006 : 12:11:05
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jojo, i asked about using the classrooms in down time, but it was to do with the heat for the smaller children. I asked maybe the classroom could be used for adults, but someone said money.
I calculated that if a teacher is there from 8-2.pm and then 3-6 for adults it is too long a day for one person.
More teachers might help.
I agree with bev, education is the only way.
So JOJO when are you going to Gambia.  |
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jojo
United Kingdom
40 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2006 : 21:56:16
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| Well nurseries generally are open from 9 till 12 or 12.30. Some schools do have an afternoon class from about 1 till 3 or 3.30. The kids don't seem overly distressed by the heat. I think the adults just dont like the afternoon slots. Also another question I have been asking - why are the nurseries built to be so dismal? Why are the windows - the breeze block "windows" so high up - I was told they are like that so the children won't get distracted by what's going on outside. I'm not so sure. Yes I agree about the money aspect - but often the schools are used for other things, like first aid classes. Education may be the only way - but sometimes the way we educate just puts kids off entirely. Also I have some reservations. I was in Gunjur, and this guy was saying how his dad and brothers - fishermen, had put him through college. He could read and write though his relatives could not. He could not get a job. I said well could you not join your dad and brothers until you find something suitable. He said - no way. So his dad and brothers were still supporting him. Just made me very uneasy about what people expect from education is all. |
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ranga
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 07:55:36
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jojo, you are correct that education is not the only answer for every person in every situation. In general, widespread education is the easiest way to prosperity, since it enables so many means of livelihood. The difference is obvious when you consider the plight of the uneducated!
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T.K. "Ranga" Rengarajan
Founder, Geoseed Project
http://www.geoseedproject.com
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2006 : 13:38:59
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Hi jojo and ranga, I as very suspect when it comes to education in Gambia, I believe that some should have a trade, and have supported people to finish trade school, tailoring, carpentry and mechanical work. Not everyone can be academic, but I do believe that they all should read and right.
another popular project that is emerging in Gambia is good farm management, introducing new food so that the land can be used most of the year.
Just a thought.
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ranga
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 05:23:48
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jamboa, I agree. We're on the same page. Beyond, reading, writing, logic and speaking, education is not restricted to formal degrees. Education enables anyone to improve themselves in any endeavor by reading and learning more. For example, if a Gambian tailor learns how to stitch suits, perhaps she can sells suits at a very attractive price to the tourists. Education enables someone to increase the value of their output. Same with a carpenter. A beautifully made chair of real wood will go for a lot of money in the US!
Farm management is another great example. An educated farmer can improve yields. An educated farmer can grow organic produce and sell for higher price. An educated farmer can grow flowers and figure out how to ship them to Europe before they wilt.
In my mind, a basic level of education is beneficial for all professions. I'm thinking at least a high school graduation, if not a degree. That may be unrealistic for Gambia in general at this time.
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T.K. "Ranga" Rengarajan
Founder, Geoseed Project
http://www.geoseedproject.com
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Newfy
Western Samoa
462 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 07:01:03
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Im happy to see such a devoted group of people interested in and serving children. We must look forward to sustaining the next generation.
About uniforms, where do they come from? Do local tailors make copies of the uniform? Would think it could be a small business for someone to start and make them lower cost if in bulk. I don't know if that would work. At least, Gambian children don't have pressure on them to wear label brands names.. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 13:31:04
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| most of the uniforms are made locally, but the problem can be the material. the last child i sponsored had to wait for the material to come to the local market. It would be hard to make in bulk as most schools have different combination of colours, blue/white, read/white, green/black. Except for the muslim schools and I believe they all wear the same uniform blue pale, with white scarfs for the girls. |
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ranga
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2006 : 16:07:15
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Speaking of uniforms, we pay an arm and a leg for school uniforms in the US because is a niche industry and not an open market. We're required to buy from one source chosen by the school. Every school has slightly different standards. I'm sure most of the money goes to labor and not materials in our case. I know that ready-made clothes sold in the US are made around the world, in India, Bangladesh, Dominican Republic, Guatemala etc.
I'm sure there is scope for Gambia. I hear Mali grows a lot of cotton. Perhaps high quality cotton towels made in Gambia are the first step! I'm building castles in the air, as if running a business is as simple as chats!
If we make education pay, education will enable more education and start the virtuous cycle. |
T.K. "Ranga" Rengarajan
Founder, Geoseed Project
http://www.geoseedproject.com
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