I have combined these two preschools into one write up (segmented into two parts) this month to begin providing overviews of activities that overlap between the schools. Please let me know if you would prefer to revert to the former format.
This month Ernest M was promoted from Dufatanye Head Teacher to Coordinator of Dufatanye and Kunachi Preschools. After several negotiations, it was agreed that Ernest will continue to teach and coordinate at Dufatanye Preschool, and on Wednesday mornings and Friday afternoons (when he teaches music and PE classes back to back) will attend Kunachi Preschool while the remaining Dufatanye Teachers will teach his class. On the days he is visiting Kunachi, he will oversee teaching methods and curriculum implementation at Kunachi. He will assist in other coordination activities, including monthly reporting, registrations, and staff supervision, for both schools as well.
The Dufatanye and Kunachi Preschools Coordinator, Kunachi Head Teacher, and PM conducted a three day workshop on December 23rd, 24th, and 27th to familiarize all new preschool teachers with FORGE administrative and reporting policies, curriculum development and lesson planning, and teaching and disciplinary methods, amongst other subjects. Copies of M&E were provided to all teachers at the three schools to ensure standardized pre-testing takes place in the first month for all students.
Since this training was internal and for the purpose of staff orientation and development, testing indicators were not gathered. Informal evaluation was conducted afterward however, and the new teachers found the training to be extremely valuable and indicated that they would appreciate ongoing staff development activities. The months in between terms can be utilized to facilitate further trainings. Our next potential workshop may be on children’s human rights (recognizing signs of abuse, etc.), conducted by Jacqui’s husband Felix, who has been trained by UNHCR on this subject.
All three schools will commence in line with the Zambian Ministry of Education on January 12th, 2009.
I) DUFATANYE
Summary of project status and achievements:
Two new teachers were selected to instruct half-time, beginning on the first day of new term, January 12th. The PM met with every new Zone G high school graduate from this year in an attempt to persuade some to apply for the available positions at Dufatanye. Only two of these young adults applied, one of whom had a criminal record. The other, Emmanuel S, was eventually selected upon the recommendation of the Preschools Coordinator and upon the condition that he will attend English classes at MCAC. Though the PF Antoine S was encouraged to apply and initially showed interested in the position, he declined to submit an application due to objections from the Zone G community that this would be selfish since Antoine is already employed part time at the community school.
After nearly a month of continued efforts to hire new teachers from within the Rwandese community, it became increasingly evident that the second candidate would come from another background, though there were no such applicants. Harriet D, a former teacher for MCAC and the wife to the Road 36 chairman applied to teach at Kunachi, but agreed to teach at Dufatanye as long as a bicycle is provided to her for transportation.
Registration of new students continued this month, and the preschool will continue operating at full capacity (over 150 students) next year.
Future activities and projections:
A PTA meeting in conjunction with new school year preparations (grounds cleaning, etc.) will be held on January 10th.
The goat monitor will be leading a short workshop to instruct parents on the ways in which the Dufatanye goats can be better cared for on January 10th as well (postponed so that the COC may attend as well). The material covered will include how to prevent common illnesses and attacks, and how to treat sick goats. This meeting will also propose a redistribution of goats so that families new to Dufatanye are given goats by those who will no longer have children attending Dufatanye.
Indicators and Statistics:
Please see Project Indicators Spreadsheet. The all student M/F ratio is currently unknown because I have not seen the final registration results.
Substantial problems or issues:
None.
Wishes or requests:
None.
Budget:
Please see expense monitor.
II) KUNACHI
Summary of project status and achievements:
Interviews for new teaching positions at Kunachi Preschool were held on December 22nd, over a dozen candidates applied, and six were invited to interview on the basis of their application letters (key factors being fluency in English and relevance of background). The panel of interviewers included the PM, Preschools Coordinator, and PM Assistant. Donat was selected to continue as the Head Teacher at the school due to his experience and familiarity with FORGE and his strong capacity as an educator. Nelson Mongole was hired as a half-time teacher, and Chitula Machalo was also selected to be a teacher, but informed that her position would be instated only in the case that over 100 students register for the new term.
A registration for new pupils was held and led by the PM and Preschools Coordinator from December 29th through 31st, and 153 new students were officially registered. More than fourteen students missed the formal registration but are hoping to be admitted if some of the registered students fail to attend, and the Preschools Coordinator expects the waitlist to continue to grow.
Due to the popularity of the school at its new location, the PM and Preschool Coordinator reassessed our previously chosen building location, which we determined would not fit all the potential students as comfortably as other vacant buildings. After several meetings and negotiations with the Refugee Officer from the Ministry of Home Affairs, FORGE was finally granted permission to use a former LWF building across from PECT that houses three large rooms.
Future activities and projections:
A community meeting will be held in the first week of January to inform parents that their help is needed in cleaning the new building location. One room currently houses old machinery that must be cleared into another UNHCR storage facility. The vehicle will be used to transport school supplies from the former Kunachi building on the same day.
Indicators and statistics:
Please see Project Indicators Spreadsheet. The all student M/F ratio is not yet available. I have edited the spreadsheet to apply to the Block D population (no longer TC 44). The percent of the Block D population reached by Kunachi is an approximation based on the statistics available from the Meheba census.
Substantial problems or issues:
The PM is still waiting to be given keys to the new building location, but is hopeful that this will happen soon. It is also possible that we may need to buy additional benches to accommodate the high number of new students, the cost of which exceeds the Kunachi supply budget.
Wishes or requests:
Please confirm that Chitula can be informed that her half-time teaching position will begin on January 12th.
Budget:
Please see expense monitor.
