Reflections on the first week at Omungwelume JSS

Like Chris, I too have faced some of the similar issues at my Grade 8-10 local school--except my school is not a hostel school, and not one of the best in the district (read Chris' blog for a reflection on what the best is like). Nevertheless, I put it all into context--at least there are school buildings, a library (even if most books are 20+ years old), most kids have desks, pens & papers, and most of the time I have chalk & a chalk brush for my class, and some textbooks). Its not a war zone, and its much better than many African countries.

Nevertheless my first day went like this: Arrive at 7am to find the school still locked. Wait 25min for the Principal. He escorts me in, asks my religion & wonders when I will do the morning prayer for the school. Uh.... He can't tell me my schedule because he doesn't know it so I wait until after prayer. At 8:05 (class starts at 8) I receive my schedule for the day--7 classes: 4 English 8, 2 Art! & 1 Geography class (In total I have 5 English Classes, 2 Geography & 3 Art classes). Go! A maniac day....and a maniac week, but I survived and I think the kids understood some of what I said & asked of them.

Let me describe my English 8E classroom though because its something I'm still coming to grips with. 35ish students in the oldest school building I have ever seen. This class is mostly learners who have failed multiple times and have just been moved on---the average age is probably 16, the oldest 21. There are 3 holes in the concrete of the classroom...big enough for a donkey or goat to walk in. Not all the kids have a desk or chair--some sit on boards. On Thursday it rained so hard I had to ford a lake to get to my classroom, then they couldn't hear me because the sound of the rain on the tin roof was deafening. Then the class started to leak--by the ceiling and through the holes in the wall--so a mad scramble ensued. This of course, on top of the lack of pens in this class--I don't think too much got accomplished. After class a soaking wet Bingo was still wimpering outside at which I told the principal I was going home to drop him off and marched off the 15mins home & back & locked him in. It was quite the day, but it got much better from there.

Interesting facts about my learners:

Average Age for my gr.8 classes: 15-16
Families: most kids do not have both parents but live with grandparents, some parents, etc.
Walk to school: a few live close, but 2-3km is pretty understandable; some walk as long as 2 hours.
Important things to the kids: the usual: soccer, netball, parents, love. More than one girl stated she like to carry water and showed a picture of herself with a large bucket on her head. Quite amazing.

So normal kids really, living in a very different environment. It is going to be an interesting year.