Difficulties in Training Teachers

After a morning of working flat out to prepare the materials, I arrived at Hibret school for training. Waiting in the office, I was eventually joined by a man who walked in saying ‘you don’t remember me do you?’ thought this was a strange greeting but said politely ‘I remember the face but not the name – I’m very sorry’ He gave his name but I didn’t write it down so I won’t remember it again.

He reminded me that we had met at a meeting organised by LinkEthiopia. I remembered the occasion. Matt had wanted to look at what training support we could give the teachers and had invited this teacher along. Steve had also been there as he was going to prepare a report on it.

It was an evening meeting and though it wasn’t very late, I gave Meleshew enough money for a taxi home. She didn’t use it as she managed to get a line taxi – she didn’t return the money either. Having observed this, the teacher then asked Steve for some money. Steve refused and was by all accounts upset by the exchange. This obviously affected the teacher because he wanted to know from me why. I asked him why he needed the money since the line taxis were running and he lived in Gondar. I also explained that I had given the money on a personal level not because it was expected. He wanted to know why Steve had got so upset and hadn’t just explained this to him. I said he probably had but that he needs to recognise that ‘ferenjis’ are being asked for money from complete strangers many times a day and that for Steve, it would have been upsetting to find that he was being expected to give money again just because I had been observed giving money to my colleague.

By now, 10 minutes of my training time had been used.

I was eventually taken to a small office together with about ten teachers and my previous interrogator.

Knowing that the teachers would not appreciate my over-running (they were only there because they had been told to come) so I explained that we would not be carrying out the activities as I would wish but that I would give them a sample and the rest was written out on the lesson plan.

I proceeded – and was pleased to note that they were suitably impressed/entertained. They enjoyed the activities that we did together and seemed genuinely interested in trying out the group activities maybe with a tutorial group. After an hour, I invited them to reflect on the session with each other and check if they had any questions.

My friendly teacher then launched into a series of negative questions and statements. What exactly was the active learning content, how were they supposed to do it in a class of 70 and why didn’t I come along and try.

I calmly explained that I was sorry he hadn’t picked up on the main active learning input and briefly shared this again with the teachers – all of whom had understood. I also explained that teaching a class of 70 Ethiopian children that I didn’t know and who were unfamiliar with ferenjis in that role, would be more disruptive than useful but that I would be happy to plan and prepare to team teach with any teacher that would like me to come in – adding of course that I would expect an hour’s planning time and time afterwards to evaluate.

One of the teachers said that she had really enjoyed the session and would like me to come back – there were general nods of agreement and I felt a bit better.

I write this out quite fully because sadly, it is not unusual. There is a real need to train teachers in Ethiopia but motivation is very low. On the whole, the teachers I meet are not ambitious and even if they were, there chances of going up the career ladder are more closely associated with their or their husband’s party membership, not their level of competence or enthusiasm. Most schools operate a shift system – this means the teachers work a 4 hour morning or a 4 hour afternoon. They are expected to put in an additional 40 minutes planning and preparation time each day. Additional training can be expected by the Head and so my input is not always welcomed.

I try to organise training in the schools I can reach in blocks of 4 x 1 hours – but even this doesn’t work. They are not expected to make resources and their assessment procedures are mainly related to recording end of month test results.

Back to Hibret

23 October 2008

Back to Hibret to join the facilitators’ meeting – all in Amharic but I had the English version of the manual and was able to follow the general issues under discussion. This was a well organised meeting and the participants had clearly prepared for it.

Kosoye

19 October 2008

Taking full advantage of Mike’s truck, we went off to Kosoye again and took Mekedes and Ynke with us. I made a great picnic which we ate further away from Kosoye and shared with a mercifully small group of rural people.

Gorogora

18 October 2008

To Gorogora with Mike, Mekdes, her sister and Mike’s colleague.

Met up with Tim and Kim who are developing a budget accommodation project on Lake Tana using local people.

They initially set up a foundation in Holland which is now handled by other people who raise money for the project. They have started with building traditional style shelters for tents and a restaurant building and hope to begin the next phase of chalet style accommodation next week.

Beautiful setting and a lot of work from two enormously committed people.


Paddling in Lake Tana

Visit to Hibret school

16 October 2008

Visit to Hibret school to met up with Ato Lalu and then on to the Woreda.

Lunch with Melash at the Blue Asa favourite fish restaurant and them home to wait for..
Mike arrived together in his truck – caked in dust and dirt. He made his way to the shower whilst Mekdes made coffee.

Ledetta school

9 October 2008

Another day when I was supposed to be visiting the two schools I hadn’t seen on Tuesday. Meleshew arrived and set about trying to find a vehicle to complete the school visit schedule. She eventually pronounced it impossible since there was no fuel and a queue a kilometre long at the filling station.

Resigned to the situation, I continued with updating the records when suddenly, Meleshew came rushing in ‘We’re going now, hurry, hurry’. The truck was loaded with blackboards awaiting delivery to the schools. We sailed past the non-existent fuel queue and when we arrived in Azezzo, the vehicle stopped to let M and I out.

After things were sorted, we had just an hour to visit the schools. Recognising that two would be impossible, I asserted that I wanted to go to Ledetta despite everyone knowing it would be easier to go to Teklahaymanot.

To humour me, it was decided to go to Ledetta. We drove off in the direction of the airport, eventually turning off into a field – it seemed to me quite randomly. After attempting to cross a large stream, the driver stopped. Geshaw and Meleshew and I embarked on the walking bit.

Chatting amiably we were initially unaware of the shouts coming from the driver and others trying to re-direct us. We crossed a corn field that brought us to an identifiable track at the end of which was a fairly fast flowing river. Shoes off, we precariously moved from boulder to boulder to stone, to knee deep in the water…. And reached the other side. (good photo opportunity).


Where shall we cross?


Not sure this is the right spot

Sadly, our approach to the school did not bring the usual entourage of children to accompany us. No-one was there.


Lidetta School

A little girl informed us that she had been to school that morning though it is very hard to see what teaching could have gone on, no board, no furniture or sitting stones. At the guard house, we met two young women who showed us the boards for the school. We left two more. We will return!


Lidetta school

Ethiopian views on Ferenjis

Yesterday I invited Meleshew to lunch at my house. Today, I extended the invitation to Alaseb and Habisher who were delighted at the idea. Whilst I was preparing the meal, my three guests chatted in Amharic about the economy and whatever else they had to catch up on. (Mekdes informed me the next day that they were also commenting on my appearance and particularly the state of my feet which were much admired!).

I enjoyed listening to the chatter. Mekdes arrived back before I had completed the enterprise and after awhile reminded the ‘guests’ they were in a ‘ferenji’ house and should be speaking English! Go Mekdes ra ra ra!

Over coffee, the conversation focussed on the differences between Europe and Africa/Ethiopia with my guests divided on whether they would want to go to Europe or America if they had the opportunity. One wanted to go and register for the DV Programme – this amounts to some sort of lottery. America takes a quotient of applicants from Ethiopia each year selected randomly. If selected, you are also able to take your family with you. Meleshew said she had no interest in going since, having worked with ‘ferenjis’ for the past few years, it seems to her we have to work far too hard.