Tanzania: Teachers Relieved As School Receives Text Books

África/Tanzania/Octubre de 2016/Autor:Issa Yussuf/Fuente: All Africa

RESUMEN: «Fuimos a la cama pobres, pero despertamos ricos!» Esa fue la manera como el Sr. Kidume Balozi Mbarouk, un maestro de la Escuela Secundaria Mlimani, Matemwe en el norte de Unguja podía expresar su felicidad después de recibir un lote de libros de texto de funcionarios del Foro para Educadoros Africanos (FAWE) . «Tenemos que conseguir los libros. Estos minimizaran el problema de la escasez de libros frente a nuestra escuela», dijo Mbarouk al agradecer a los donantes. El envío contenía Ciencias, Matemáticas y libros en inglés. Habló durante la ceremonia de entrega que tuvo lugar en la escuela, unos 58 kilómetros al noreste de la ciudad de piedra. Sr. Mbarouk estaba encantado de que los libros ayudarian a los estudiantes en el pueblo.

«We went to bed poor, but woke up rich!» That was the best way Mr Kidume Balozi Mbarouk, a teacher at the Mlimani Secondary School, Matemwe coastal Village in North Unguja could express his happiness after receiving a consignment of text books from Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) officials.

«We are to get the books. These will minimise the problem of book shortage facing our school,» Mr Mbarouk said when thanking the donors. The consignment contained Science, Mathematics and English books.

He was speaking during the handing over ceremony held at the school, about 58 kilometres, North East of the Stone Town. Mr Mbarouk was delighted that the books would help students in the village.

«Many students leave far away from the school. It is unfortunate that despite leaving home at dawn, they arrive late for class,» Mr Mbarouk said. He said that the learning environment has not been conducive to the students, particularly as it places schoolgirls at risk of abuse and time wasting for students instead focusing on studies. The teacher said female students are worst affected with unfavorable learning environment leading to poor performance in class.

«In most cases, female students are inactive in classrooms compared to male. We need to encourage them, help them build confidence so they can challenge the boys. Some times they are afraid even to talk in class,» said the headteacher.

He said ‘TUSEME’ clubs introduced at the schools to help build courage and confidence on female students, has had little impact to some female students who continue to be afraid to speak in public and in classroom.

Tuseme is a studentcentered empowerment model that uses theatre-fordevelopment techniques to identify and address concerns that hinder girls’ social and academic development.

Through Tuseme clubs, girls develop action plans to solve their problems, involving the support of peers, educators, parents and community members. He said the school head teacher Mr Mohamed Mzee Choum has been committed to support ll programs including TUSEME for the development of the students including girls. Mlimani School has three-hundred students with only 15 teachers out of which four are females.

Mr Mbarouk said «We wish to have more female teachers, because their presence at school is very important especially to the female students, and as most of the girls are ignorant of their rights.»

He said teachers and schools committees have been collaborating to address problems facing the female students including recent formation of the ‘special coastal committee to oversee performance in the three schools in the region.

The teacher said most of the students in the area pass science subjects compared to arts and indication that the students in the village like sciences and if empowered they can do much better.

But many are male, «for example in the past form IV examinations, only two out of 13 who passed the exams, were female.» «We are trying to encourage female student and also call upon their parents to motivate the children to study hard despite the fact that they live faraway from schools, and have little time to study at home,» he said. Let us support the development of women; Mr Mbarouk said, it is because they are a blessing in the family and in the nation.

All religions teach us about educating women, but many parents have not shown seriousness in supporting female children. Mr Mbarouk was joined by Teacher Mr Khamis Mkanga to call for concerted efforts in ensuring the ‘Girl Child’ is not in any way denied education, as the teachers thanked FAWE for donating the books and its Tusema project.

«Many of our children in Matemwe had never visited city centre, they did not have shoes and good dress like skirts, but fortunately the FAWE projects has enabled the student visit town, put on shoes, and wear decently,» the teacher said adding that it looks funny but it is real.

Mr Mkanga said there have been some noticeable developments recorded in the Matemwe schools in terms of confidence among students and performance in examinations; however, more efforts are required to achieve the goals.

«Poverty in families is another issue of concern that affects female students. I think FAWE should increase the number of students being supported by the organization. Many female students need help,» said Mr Mkanga.

He said in effort to narrow the gap between boys and girls in participatory learning, Matwemwe schools have been inviting other schools from city centre like Vikokotoni School, to come and mix-up with their colleagues through debates and socialization.

The teachers said the method has been working, as it has benefited some students by building their confidence. Students get little support including lack of word of encouragement from their parents or guardian at home.

«They are left to struggle on their own, and not even asked if they do go to school,» he said. He said the frequent meetings, in which teachers and parents are reminded about their parental role and contribution towards the development of students, are used to send the message across the Matemwe community.

Ms Chachi Haji Vuai, student at Mlimani School Matemwe said being a member of the TUSEME club, she can argue or challenge with men, «It took me sometime to get the courage and confidence because it is still a taboo in our society to challenge with men.»

«I am happy to be in the club, and also thank FAWE for supporting my education. I would have ended in primary school, but now I hope to complete my secondary education,» Ms Vuai said as her classmate Ms Zabibu Mohamed Moumin said the programs are important to them.

«Boys benefit too, but FAWE and TUSEME targets young women, it is good we are happy, but it is unfortunate that more girls in the villages need support than what FAWE can offer,» Ms Moumin said adding that life skills has ‘empowered young girls.’

Mr Suleiman Makame Mati, student at Mlimani and member of TUSEME Club, said the club has helped him in many ways including being bold and confident in studies, «Tuseme is mainly for women, but men like me, have also benefited, » he said. Mr Mati said celebrating ‘International Girls Day’ is good because it reminds the public about respecting dignity of girls.

«Life at home and even at school is unfavorable to young women compared to men. Therefore a girl Day is important!» Teacher Ms Kazija Juma Ali, Tuseme Club mentor at Kiwengwa School thanked FAWE for establishing the Tuseme clubs and providing books as «It will enable us improve our newly set school library. We need books for library to help our students.»

However, the teacher asked FAWE to increase sponsorship to the young ladies in schools, «at least from the current five to ten students to be supported by FAWE.»

The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) is a pan-African non-governmental organization founded in 1992 by five women ministers of education to promote girls’ and women’s education in sub-Saharan Africa by making sure they have access to schools and are able to complete their studies and fulfill their potential, in line with UNESCO’s Education For All movement.

Fuente: http://allafrica.com/stories/201610190412.html

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