Monday went according to plan! We visited four schools in Nyakato Ward with the Ward Education Coordinator (WEC) and saw four lessons that all, for better or worse, incorporated “use of teaching aids” and/or “participatory methods”.

In each school Josiah and I, the WEC, the Head Teacher and which ever other teachers cared to, observed one teacher (or a team approach in one school!) teach a mathematics lesson.  If teachers of other classes came to observe then their classes sat quietly, unsupervised, in their classroom.

We have stressed the importance of group work, but maybe too hard because we have seen it used inappropriately – collaborative addition of 5 digit numbers by groups of 10 using digits written on small pieces of paper to form the answer! We need to go back and talk about how and when to use group work.

We have encouraged the use of teaching aids and on this day one teacher was so nervous about his ‘performance’ that he forgot to use the aids he had prepared.

We have encouraged active participation of pupils in lessons and today saw pupils ‘racing’ to place numbers in their correct place value and also a ‘play’ showing the steps in solving a linear equation.

We also visited a school that would put most Australian schools to shame for its creative use of spaces inside and outside classrooms to make pupils think!  This is the artist responsible – Sweetbert Mujemula - who was inspired by Jim and Sue Taylor, previous VSO volunteers in Bukoba.

Tuesday we modified ‘the plan’ – four schools in one day was just a few too many!  Tuesday we visited Katoma B and Karwoshe Primary Schools.  At both these schools I presented Certificates of achievement for last year’s Standard VII Exam results.  That is always a pleasant responsibility.

Karwoshe received two – 100% Pass and Most Improved English scores.  The Head Teacher, Sweetbert Michael, was very pleased.

We observed a Std V class learning about odd and even numbers.  The teacher divided the class into two teams for a competition.  What names did the teams choose?  Arsenal and Manchester United!

I also went to see the printer about my book – the printing hasn’t started yet!  I have stressed my need to have them by March 6^th in time for the next series of seminars.  Will keep you posted on developments.

Wednesday was a day in the office for me while our car was prepared for the trip to Serengeti.  It started badly for Steve when the police stopped him and inspected the car for its Fire Safety Sticker and fire extinguisher – out of date 8 and 6 months respectively!  Steve promised to rectify this and was sent on his way.  Meanwhile I was in the office redesigning my Schemes of Work – there is only one correct way to write these and that is in a table of 13 columns!  I also waited (in vain) for my scheduled phone conference with VSO Tanzania Education Program Officer. 

Wednesday was scheduled as an Office day rather than a school visit day because of an important Education Office meeting that Josiah should attend – as it turned out the meeting was cancelled because the Minister for Construction (or some such) had decided to visit Bukoba and all the ‘important people’ wanted to meet with him instead.  [The Minister’s visit also delayed our dinner last night – a 1 ½ hour wait for fried fish and mashed potato – as he and his retinue were staying at our favourite haunt, the Kolping.]

I walked down to town after work to collect the car.  The exhaust system was fixed (it doesn’t sound like a racing car anymore) but we still had no emergency spare. I drove back up the hill to get what Steve thought was the best of the four old tyres but when I delivered it to the mechanic he thought it not good enough to use even in an emergency.  So now we had the fire extinguisher and the tyre to sort out the next day as well as scheduled visits to four schools in Katerero Ward!

Thursday we drove to the office prepared for what could be a very long day!  It started looking that way when the first job was to take Josiah home again to get the office key!  Finally after collecting the Certificates from the now unlocked office we headed down the hill to town.  I waited for the mechanic at the car dealers with the other three old tyres, while Steve and Josiah went to sort out the Fire Safety Sticker.  An hour later we had the sticker (Valid June 2010 to June 2011 so we’ll have to get another before we leave!), a receipt for the fire extinguisher which is being ‘serviced’ and the promise of an emergency spare for our trip to Serengeti – fire extinguisher and tyre to be picked up this afternoon. 

At 9:30 (only one hour late) we met the Katerero WEC at Kanazi PS – one of the four schools due to receive a Certificate of Achievement.  He was there with the Head Teachers of all the Katerero primary schools and the teacher in charge of stores at each school, having a meeting regarding budgets and requisitions.  A quick discussion ensued and we did the Certificate presentation to the four Head Teachers then and there.  This was excellent!   A saving of several hours, and I hadn’t really been looking forward to the trip to Mpumulo and to Kigabiro – lovely schools, horrible roads!

The Head Teacher from Kemondo PS was at the meeting so I told all the other Head Teachers how well Kemondo had done and to pester her as to how she does it.  Then I popped into the Standard I mathematics class and was treated to some beautiful counting – both chanted and sung!  A good day’s work done and we were back in Bukoba by 10:45 – in time for morning tea.

This afternoon, strictly according to plan, I have picked up the spare tyre and the fire extinguisher and tomorrow we are off to Serengeti.  If all goes well my next blog will have pictures of elephants and giraffes.