It has been an interesting few days. On Monday I had the opportunity to go to the National Curriculum Development Center and meet with Mr. Christopher Muganga and other members of the curriculum department. I learned a little bit about their plans for their new curriculum and national exams. We discussed the importance of developing 21st skills in Ugandan youth, and I was able to talk to them about what I had been doing at Kyambogo thus far. I was also able to bounce ideas off them for my second round of breakout sessions, which was immensely helpful in focusing my content for the upcoming week. That evening I got home from school only to discover plaster
falling from the ceiling and water all over the floor in the living room. There was a workman doing some work in the ceiling outside of my apartment and apparently a pipe burst. The front office staff and I then spent the next forty five minutes moving my stuff to an empty apartment across the foyer. So I am now ensconced in my new (but smaller) apartment. The view from my bedroom terrace isn't the same, but it's definitely quieter on this side of the building. No rooster to wake me up at 4am.
On Tuesday a driver from the US Embassy picked me up to take me to my security briefing. While there I met up with Annalise Klein (annaliseklein.wordpress.com), a teacher from California who is headed to the eastern part of Uganda to work on STEM education in a rural school. After returning from the embassy I decided to pamper myself the rest of the day and had a pedicure at Nails and Chill, followed by lunch and a yummy spiced mojito at Romeo's.
On Thursday I visited two other schools and did a co- presentation with Diana Nalule, a teacher from a nearby secondary school who completed a Fulbright assignment to New York five years ago. Diana has been immensely helpful in giving me insight into some cultural differences that I have found puzzling. Both of the schools we went to today were outside of the city. We first went to Bulenga Modern Primary School, a school of 180 students from 3 years old to P7. We present the concept of growth mindset to all of the school's twelve teachers. This is a concept that holds true at any educational level, and my personal feeling is, the earlier you can lead children to a growth mindset, the better their educational experience will be in the long run. Diana then expands on the idea of "the power of YET" and leads the teachers through an activity. Before we head to the second school I go on a tour of the primary grounds, and am surprised to learn that even at this young age some children are boarders.
The second school was a secondary school called Temangalo High School. The school only has twenty students, very few teachers-- only three teachers are there on any given day), and no electricity. It is explained that this school is basically for neighborhood children who can't afford a higher level school like Kyambogo. The school only has three classrooms and students take combined classes. The situation here is more dire than any of the other schools I've visited. The children can't always afford uniforms, or school fees or supplies, or anything really. Once child tells Diana and me how her parents refuse to pay school fees for her because she has two older sisters and they told her she has to wait until they are out of school first. So this 17 year old girl now lives on her own in a room, working as a waitress at night so she can pay her school fees herself. Getting an education is that important to her. All of my prayers tonight will be that she manages to hang in there and over come these challenges. She was a late starter because of her parents refusal to pay for her education, so she still has four years of school left. Even though it wasn't in the planned activities we decide to talk t the students anyway about having a growth mindset and why it's important, because if I've ever seen a need for people to maintain a growth mindset, it is these children who all have hopes and aspirations, but see no clear path to their future.
The second school was a secondary school called Temangalo High School. The school only has twenty students, very few teachers-- only three teachers are there on any given day), and no electricity. It is explained that this school is basically for neighborhood children who can't afford a higher level school like Kyambogo. The school only has three classrooms and students take combined classes. The situation here is more dire than any of the other schools I've visited. The children can't always afford uniforms, or school fees or supplies, or anything really. Once child tells Diana and me how her parents refuse to pay school fees for her because she has two older sisters and they told her she has to wait until they are out of school first. So this 17 year old girl now lives on her own in a room, working as a waitress at night so she can pay her school fees herself. Getting an education is that important to her. All of my prayers tonight will be that she manages to hang in there and over come these challenges. She was a late starter because of her parents refusal to pay for her education, so she still has four years of school left. Even though it wasn't in the planned activities we decide to talk t the students anyway about having a growth mindset and why it's important, because if I've ever seen a need for people to maintain a growth mindset, it is these children who all have hopes and aspirations, but see no clear path to their future.
On Friday I was formally introduced to the students at KCS during their morning assembly. They all looked very "smart" in their uniforms. I addressed them for a few minutes about persistence and perseverance and overcoming challenges. Academic perseverance takes on a new meaning here. They are appreciative for all they have and for everything you do to help. I was then introduced to Donald Musikili, the young man who is a recipient of the scholarship my family has provided. Donald is a Senior 4 student who has aspirations of going on to university and becoming an engineer. He is extremely self possessed and focused so I know he will go on to achieve all of his dreams and I'm very happy to know that we had even a little bit to do with that.
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