Help 80 Secondary Pupils in Niger Read and Write

The Big Challenge

We have been writing for years now about our big challenge to bring reading and writing skills up to level for students at Hampate Ba Secondary School. This is especially true concerning our underprivileged scholarship students who arrive in 6th grade, coming from public schools with jam- packed classes where they virtually have learned very little, if anything at all and who have the added disadvantage of having illiterate parents who do not speak French with them at home. So they start Hampate Ba Middle School with a big disadvantage and are discouraged from the beginning. We have remedied this mostly through our fabulous new After School Tutoring Program that we have started to implement with trained teachers who are able to boost the students. And now, in conjunction with this tutoring action,  we were able to confirm during our trip in April to Niamey, that our recent introduction of technology is also giving good results. Therefore, we are proud to announce that we are currently using new technology to enhance motivation for improving the very necessary skills of reading and writing. 

Reading and Writing as a Backbone of all Content Areas 

Before discussing technology and its unquestionable advantages with the reading and writing process (language arts), it is necessary to remember that many other subjects within a school curriculum require reading and writing skills in order to address the content. Mathematics as well as science projects often require explanations in writing and comprehensive reading understanding to do research. In fact, all subjects in the curriculum require reading comprehension and knowledge of the writing process, as students need to be able to read, research and write about a particular topic. 

How does Technology Help?

Technology is definitely a valuable tool that has the ability to enhance the learning skills for reading and writing and has the capability to motivate the learner and the teacher for creativity. Students acquire literary skills vital for success in school today and teachers invent new methods for teaching. 

Projectors as an efficient and fun Tool

As we visited different classrooms during our visit to Niamey in April, we were pleasantly surprised to see that the projectors we had purchased and delivered were being well put to use ! History/geography teachers were able to develop thematic units on weather and world regions.  Projecting images and illustrations on the screen gained a whole new dimension and certainly beat copying texts from the blackboard. This type of resource also helps develop the autonomy of the students, as they also learn to use the projector on their own and present their projects.  

Our computer lab has proved successful so far as a guide and a tool : it keeps getting better!

The Internet is constructing global bridges for students to learn, by changing the way that information is absorbed, processed, and used. Technology is influencing how students read, write, listen, and communicate. Our computer lab, under the supervision of an expert computer teacher, is encouraging students to be attentive, to do research, and to go further than what they have learned in class. From an attendance list, we are happy to confirm that during our visit at the school, we were able to determine that the students who have regularly used the computer lab for research, are more enthusiastic and have a higher success rate than those who have only copied a lesson from the blackboard in class. This is excellent news and we hope the tendency continues!

 Listen to what the Students/Teachers have to say : 

« I come to the computer lab afterschool as often as possible. I want to succeed my BEPC exam and when I do Internet research, I am able to go deeper into the subjects and then I get motivated to learn more and more. » comments  Razak, an avid computer user in middle school.”

“I hear the students repeating often that they are excited since they know that the computer work they are doing is special, since it is something that their parents did not have the opportunity to do when they were at school. I am really amazed to see the progress made by the students and how technology has enhanced their motivation to do schoolwork. » says Mr. Namata, the proud computer after-school teacher.

«  I love science and I am happy to see I can read new scientific terms and also use those terms in a sentence.Those new words quickly become familiar to me » comments Nafissa who aims to be a doctor one day.

“ I like getting to my history/geography class as early as possible. We have a team that is interested in technology and so we have learned to set-up the projector and have everything ready for the lesson when the teacher arrives. We all feel good about being independent and accomplished. We want this to continue because the class is so much more alive and interesting with images projected onto the screen. The technique of this teacher really makes us learn better.” exclaims with enthusiasm Sidi who is a 6^th-grader

What is Next ?

Next on the list is to teach the students how to do Power Point Presentations with visuals, so important for keeping the attention of young minds.  When all of these technology-enhanced lessons are combined, we hope the young learners at Hampaté Bâ will continue eagerly to improve their reading and writing skills.  Most find it more enjoyable to use the computer than struggle with flipping pages.  

Students and Teachers going beyond ...  

We are happy to have some Technology- savvy teachers at Hampaté Bâ, who are becoming an inspiration to our students.  It is evident that technology is in everyone’s best interest, especially that of our students, to utilize this dynamic tool within their school day and to give them better chances for employment in the future. 

We need your donations to help finance scholarships and keep girls in Hampaté Bâ School that implements such   innovative projects. Be part of the change! Your contributions give our students a better chance through technology education to improve their skills, to help their families, to develop their community.  You can make a difference in their lives. THANK YOU !