Back to Atse Fasil

Friday 18 April

Back to Atse Fasil to carry out some lesson observations with Meleshew. The lessons are very long (120 minutes) and so the Director had organised for us to see two lessons in one session. This means that the observations are quite limited and it’s hard to do justice to a teacher. Meleshew and I used the information gathered to construct some additional ideas for the Training day on Friday.

On Friday, we trained 100+ Teachers of Grades 1 – 4 (7 – 11). The day was split into 2 with Meleshew and Mulugeta doing their usual session on Model Classrooms, whilst I did training in Lesson Planning and Continuous Assessment. I asked for a translator and the Director provided a 2nd Cycle English Teacher. We didn’t get a chance to discuss before hand and unfortunately, it took him awhile to begin to do what I needed rather than engaging with me about the nature and purpose of my planning. For example, he said the teachers already knew how well children in their classes had responded to the lesson because they were good at observing facial expressions and body language! Fortunately, I explained that the teachers had requested the training I was giving and they backed me up! The day was successful and I ended up with a very sore throat.

Lunchtime, Meleshew decided to take me out to lunch. We went to a local café and had injeera and a variety of veggie wots, a couple of bottles of pepsi and coffees. The bill for the 3 of us came to 27 Birr! (less than £1.50). Had I paid, it would have been substantially more! They agreed, laughing.

I also visited Kebele 16 school which is very close to the college. I had been promising Eschete the Director that I would visit. Lots of building work going on – to include new classrooms, a library and media resources room. The school had a fantastic atmosphere. Ethiopia link provided money last year for them to build a new staff room – built of breeze blocks so providing more shelter than the traditional wooden and thatch structure (but visually much poorer).

The teachers and local community have formed themselves into a committee PC3 Positive Change, community, children, care. The group have been given money, but I’m not quite sure from where, to support work with the school’s orphan children – approx 350, orphaned by aids – representing approx 10% of the school population. They have invested the money they’ve been given in a fridge/freezer to make ice lollies which are sold to students during the break at 10c a time. The money raised goes towards providing uniforms. They also received further substantial funds which have been invested in building two small shop units outside the school which are to be rented out. The income will also be used to provide finances for books and hopefully a meal a day. A good example of a sustainable project that will generate an ongoing income rather than just using a short term handout.

I met up with two English teachers who showed me the one book they have between them (grades 5 – 8) to prepare lessons and explained that some students had been able to buy copies of the book on the black market which meant that every class may have 2/3 books in it. Going back next week to discuss training issues.

A very quiet weekend. Again, I was intending to go out Nicholas had said he’d like to go up to town. I called Carlyn and she said a group would be meeting at abut 7pm. Then the power went off, it started raining and I read an email notice from VSO saying that the elections had caused some unrest in Addis and Asosa (on the border of Sudan). Decided to stay home.