Submitted to: U-landshjelp fra Folk til Folk, Norge DAPP MZIMBA TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGE JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2014
PROJECT ACTIVITIES Introduction DAPP Mzimba Teacher Training College opened in 2013 in the Northern Education Division of Malawi. The purpose of the project is to train primary school teachers for the rural areas of Malawi; teachers who are highly qualified and trained in teaching as well as community development and are professionally well founded to energetically think that all pupils in primary school have the potential to become skilled and productive members of society. During the year of 2014, Mzimba Teacher Training College had many activities being implemented by student teachers and the local community under different themes. Below are the teams of student teachers and their achievements. Team 2012 The goal was to have 64 student teachers completing their studies. However, during the year, 56 student teachers finished their course. Some students dropped out due to pregnancy and others for personal reasons. The 56 student teachers were allocated to 9 primary schools during practice period where theoretical knowledge gained at the college was being put into practice. The students used much of their time to produce quality teaching and learning materials aimed at making learners to learn more. Each student teacher had time to teach learners in infant, junior and senior class. This really enabled them to gain experience on how to care for each class of learners. The students also organised many remedial classes to help learners who were not able to read and write despite having passed some classes. Through consistent remedial lessons, many learners were able to read and write. The presence of student teachers in the 9 Primary teaching practice schools resulted in a high pass rate in the Primary school Leaving Certificate results compared to the baseline data collected. The student teachers also introduced hand washing facilities as a way to deal with diarrhea and other diseases. Parents are also benefiting from student teacher placed in schools, through adult literacy clubs. As a result of learning to read and write, parents have formed various income generating clubs, and mother groups to encourage girls to go to school. They have also taken leadership positions in PTA and other school responsibilities. The initiatives which the students introduced are many and have been beneficial mainly to learners and community at large. 2
PROJECT ACTIVITIES Team 2013 This team started in September, 2013. There are 66 students enrolled; all girls. It is a pioneer team in the implementation of the 3 year teacher training programme. During the year 2014, many programmes and activities have been achieved as stated below; Bussing Our Continent This started in January to May 15th where the students travelled in SADC countries learning a lot and also taught people by doing. For instance, they went to Ndola where many gold mining companies are located. The students learnt how Zambia is developing through mining companies and how these companies are contributing to the development of workers in the mining sector. During the 4 months travel, student teachers developed much more sense and knowledge on how to develop a generation that cares for each other. Whilst travelling, students constructed rubbish pits, hand washing facilities and other actions in hospitals, schools and elsewhere. In addition to above, students also organised open days under different themes, including HIV/AIDS and healthy living. Hitting the Hearts The period following bussing our continent was a period to reflect on what was learnt during the travel and share that information in creative ways with the community, in essence, hitting their hearts. For instance, one group of students went to Edingeni where the Principle chief stays. They had good time of hitting hearts of learners through open days which were organised and farmers days where conservation farming methods were also shared to farmers. On the last day in that area, the students visited families especially those without toilets and other hygiene facilities where an action was done together with family members to raise health standards. The reason why the students are under going such a hands on type of training is to thoroughly prepared them to become responsible citizens and be agents for positive change. Hitting the Hearts period was the last of the first year and was concluded with peoples examinations. 3
PROJECT ACTIVITIES Golden Eggs to smaller ones This period is a teaching practice period which demands the student teachers to focus on younger groups of learners in the primary schools. Each group of students for each primary school has set goals to accomplish during this period. Some of the goals are; 1. Teaching new songs that draws attention when teaching 2. Each learner is able to read and write 3. Each learner is able to count and write correct figures The period will end with Examination where each student will demonstrate how to make younger ones learn. Team 2013 will finish year 2014 with period 7 called When Humans call, Teachers answer. Team 2014 The goal is to enroll 120 students (96 Females and 24 Males). Preparatory meetings were held early April this year to share with the student teachers to be demands of the 3 year programme included herein the need for each student to secure a travelling passport which constitute part of the training. The new team started on 1st October, 2014. They are now in the first period called Crossing the Rubicon. During this period, students will study history of the world, its big issues and get familiar with the bus. They will also plan, organise and prepare travel to experience camp life. 4
PROJECT ACTIVITIES Community activities Girls clubs More girls clubs continue to be established, adding to those established in 2012-2013. During year 2014, four youth clubs were formed. Student teachers have been instrumental in mobilising the youth and leading the clubs. Currently, the 4 clubs have a membership of 456 youth. Some of the areas covered in the clubs are: HIV/AIDS, traditional practices which affect education, and promotion of girl clubs (where mother groups are involved in some the meeting days). The school would also like to introduce an art group. Firewood saving stoves. This is one of the ongoing activities which the College is working on together with community members. So far, more than 120 family members have firewood saving stoves. Each village has a committee which is promoting construction and use of firewood saving stoves. The advantage is that less firewood is needed to prepare food for the family compared to open space cooking. Subsequently, most of the members have woodlots which they are tending. Adult literacy clubs These clubs started in 2012 with funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Filnad (MFA Finland). In October, 2013 almost 117 community members graduated, meaning that they are able to read and write. Those who graduated are now doing income generating activities. In addition, they are helping a lot in different social and national development initiatives. For instance, some of them are members in the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA). Soon after graduation of the first team, 110 more enrolled and are soon going to be assessed to see if they are able to read and write. Adult literacy clubs are now primarily being run by the community members and the College together. We expect to see this team graduating before December, 2014. 5
PROJECT ACTIVITIES Head first into lion s pen This is the first period in the second year where student teachers take a new step forward and get closer into the work and profession of teaching and learning. This period lasted for 4 weeks where students travelled to nearby primary schools to observe lessons and practise some teaching and learning elements. Each group of students worked together with experienced primary school teachers who helped them to understand much more on how learners learn, how lessons are conducted, and how learners with disabilities are treated. The primary school teachers graciously and responded to many other questions which students asked. We call this teacher a Primary School Teacher. By end of the period, students clearly understood what teaching is all about and the elements that are missing to make learners learn for life and not just to pass exams. It s Show Time (IST) It s Show Time period is a period where students showcase their teaching skills. During this period, student teachers with learners together produced Teaching And Learning Using Locally Available Resources which have been displayed in the classes they were teaching. They also invited parents where they showed some of the Teaching resources produced and how they are used to simply concepts during teaching and learning process. 6
EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT The project had the following impact during the year; In November 2014, the first team graduated. The 56 graduates will help to reduce teacher - pupil ratio when deployed by government. Some of the effects of the project are; Improved awareness on individual education and health care for children raised at the primary schools where teacher trainees are teaching. Consequently, there are lower drop-out rates of children going to school as a result of parent involvement, e.g. through formation of mother groups. Enhanced living standards of surrounding communities through community activities at and around the college. Creation of jobs and businesses to people around the college which has positively helped to raise the living standards. Many children accessing early child education as a result of more pre schools established in the area. Communities empowered with skills on the use of improved methods of farming as a result of agricultural lessons conducted by students and Dis in the area. 7
PROJECT IN NUMBERS DAPP MZIMBA TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGE Planned Jan-Dec 2014 Planned Jan- June 2014 Achieved 2014 Variance Team 2012 56 56 55-1 Team 2013 68 68 66-2 Team 2014 120 0 120 0 Students graduating (team 2012) 56 0 56-0 In-service teachers participating in 3 pedagogical sessions. Primary schools for school based Teaching Practice Primary schools for college based demonstration Teaching Practice. Events held related to the Primary Education sector. Community members benefiting from community lessons at the college (including children) 25 0 0 0 9 9 9 0 6 6 6 0 12 6 12 0 600 600 569-31 Hectares for vegetable production 1 1 0.5 0.5 Hectares for staple food production 4 2 1-1 Fruits, agro-forest and other tree nurseries Primary school pupils benefiting from the DNS students in the teaching practice schools 10 5 5 0 8,400 8,400 8,400 0 Open days 12 6 4-2 Comment Many community members have benefitted much in our project activities for community lessons, and learners in primary schools have improved reading and writing skills as a result of remedial lessons conducted by students both at the college and in the teaching practice primary schools. Many schools are far from each other and this has caused schools to have more learners than the standard in according to their number of teachers and classes available at the school and this has also made the number of learners benefitting from our teaching practice schools more than planned. The college has been also forced to use 4 schools for demonstration teaching practice because they are the ones which are near the college and would be easy for students to walk. However, there have been dropout cases for female students due to pregnancy. 8
PROJECT IN PICTURES Team 2013 students together with core group teacher preparing the bus for the 4 months travel. 9
PROJECT IN PICTURES Above: Core group 3, solving study tasks to be presented to the teacher for approval. Student preparing vegetables for the school meal for students during weekends. 10
PROJECT IN PICTURES Some of the students watering vegetables which are supplied to the kitchen. 11
PROJECT IN PICTURES Open day organised to promote and sensitize people on girls rights to education. Above are students teachers who are also matrons for some of the youth clubs 12
PROJECT IN PICTURES Fruit trees in the orchard have started producing fruits. A meal served with a fruit is healthier. 13
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