Today marked the first day my 2nd full trimester
as a Namibian teacher! Today was just the teachers, so we spent a few hours in
a staff meeting discussing plans for the new term as well as results from the
first term. Our most impressive result: a 2% pass rate from our grade 9
learners. WHADDUP NAM EDUCATION?!
Ok but really. This, plus the results from a big regional
education conference that happened during break, led to a conversation this
morning about what is going on in our school. First off, we are approximately
the last choice in secondary schools due to our results.. the good schools
accept only the top tier of learners, and so on until we are left with those
who have not been successful in the past. We talked about home life, parent
support, and teacher support as major influences on learners, as well.
We also discussed the lack of educational alternatives for
learners who are just not cut out for “normal” schools. 99% of our learners
qualify as needing extra classes, but we simply don’t have the teacher-power to
provide them with the extra classes, in small groups, that would be required.
Many of our learners have undiagnosed (or even diagnosed, but what can you do
about them?) learning disabilities or other problems that may even be
preventing them from ever being successful in a standard classroom setting. One
of the things we are wondering is: is there a way to get a vocational or
“special” school in Karas? Our region currently lacks any of these options for
learner support. Why should the learners from our region be prevented from
having these resources?
Anyway, at the end of the day we decided it comes down to
the teachers doing the best they can given what we have. So, back to the grind –
at least we are once again a full teaching staff and can try to help each other
make it through the term!
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