Feed A Hungry Mind

Report 2^nd December 2014

All the national examinations are over and the school examinations have also been written. The primary schools close for the end of the school year on 5^th December. The teachers and pupils enjoy a five week holiday before the new school year starts in January 2015.

 Pilot project maths

Barbara Kerr continued her visits to the primary schools with a focus on helping teachers whose Standard IV pupils were preparing for their national examinations last month. Other teachers came to Barbara’s sessions as they are interested in the teaching methods she imparts, and all the teachers enjoy how Barbara can make a topic simple and easy to understand.

Pilot Project English

Katy Allen continued to oversee the teaching of English using the new course books for Standard I and the New Original English course for Standard III. The teachers of Standard III were finding it hard to conduct the ‘action chains’ in the books. These are oral exercises in which the target language is put into use, and can involve up to 5 pupils coming to the front to use the ‘action chain’ with the language they have learned. A workshop was held for the teachers to be guided in how to organise the pupils, and more particularly in how to engage the many other pupils, and how to ensure the flow of the lesson. After several practices the teachers said they were confident in using the ‘action chains’ in their lessons. They all saw how very useful they are to reinforce the meaning of the language.

Two groups of visitors came to see the projects in the schools, and all commented on how the English lessons demonstrated real participation and understanding on the part of the pupils.

New project

Village Education Project has been invited to join another organisation in its work in the Manyara region. There the teachers in four pilot project schools will start to use the English and maths books after Village Education Project has given initial seminars in January.

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Village Education Project is gaining a good reputation for its valuable work. The spread of pilot projects using the books and methods advocated within them will help to gain crucial evidence for the impact the books can have to improve the quality of education.

            Thank you for helping Village Education Project Kilimanjaro and thereby helping the teachers and their pupils.

Village Education Project Kilimanjaro remains grateful for the support of every donor. We wish all of you a very happy Christmas and New Year.

Very best wishes

Katy

Katy Allen

Director

2^nd December 2014