I apologize for the lack of updates. I could lie to you and tell you it was because I had limited time last week but in truth I didn't make the time to blog… because I am slightly lazy… So here is a week's update of Maleka's Adventures in Africa: Ghana. Belt up, it's a long one.
So it was decided on Monday I would go to school with Jameela as the journey to the national theatre wasn't worth the limited time I was actually there. I was excited (I remember that much) the teachers were friendly enough the last time I went and I was confident in my teaching abilities, I was sure I would be able to teach the senior class something. We arrived (late) and sat in Mr. B's office for… an hour or so before he told us to invigilate some of the exams that were going on that week. Invigilating was actually really entertaining. The kids were good enough. When myself and Mr. B walked in they all stopped talking instantly. The boy Mr. B caught talking greeted us then Mr. B told them who I was and that they needed behave. If they didn't I could take a red pen and mark it. This would mean that they lost 20% on those exams (I marked those exams later that day; come of the kids on the French exam didn't have 20% I could even take from them.) After Mr. B left I assured the children I wouldn't take marks off if they talked – I would if they pushed me though. So they continued writing their exams. It was interesting to view. About a ¼ of the class brought the utensils – pencils, ruler etc. – So there was a lot of "Madame," (because they called me Madame) "may I please get the ruler/pencil/etc." I would nod and they would move across the room and take the said item. If they got to loud, I would stare at the child and they would quickly silence their conversation. At one point they got far too loud (well Ghana loud which really was a whisper if you compare it to the noise levels of an exam with a sub in the UK) and one child took it upon himself to move to someone who looked like they would pass this particular exam. That I wouldn't accept, that was a step too far. So I said, in the most diplomatic tone I could muster, "What the hell are you doing?" He looked up at me with these doe brown and was like, "Who me?" I nodded. He seemed taken aback (up to that point I hadn't spoken). "What are you doing?" He pointed to his friend who was looking very forcefully at his exam paper. I shook my head and told him to go back to his seat. He sulked off to the front of the room where he was supposed to be sitting. That was just the beginning. The bell rang for break but their exam was still going on so they had to sit and finish. Their friends took the bell as a sign to walk into my classroom and start conversations with those taking exams. I was all…. "Do you have a reason to be in here?" "No, Madame." "Then why are you here?" … silence… "Then leave." They thought I meant leave the room. Oh No. I made them move far from the room. Then teachers started sticking their heads in wanting to 'get to know me – the not Jameela' oh jeez, it was a very long exam.
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It made me think about the lack of resources the private school had which lead me on to the thoughts of what the regular school had... As I said, only about 1/4 of those taking the exam had the right equipment, what would that be like in a regular school? Is that hindering their thirst for education? Their chances at getting the grades to go on to higher education? And I ask myself is that fair? I know the answer. No. But that is how life is here and they just get on with it. and its that spirit - and their strong belife in God - which gets them success in life and I respect. In the UK we just abuse the easy access we have for stuff. I mean I used to just take excercise books from school JUST TO DRAW IN. In my spanish lessons i would get a new writing book every lesson, FOR WHAT? Just to have and just to waste time in genral! Even in the crappiest school in the UK, there is still more resources for the child that probably doesn't even care. I went to a private school and attend a grammar - in my old school (the private one) every classroom had an interatcitve whiteboard, every teacher had a laptop as well as every student in 6th Form. In my Grammar school now they ,. have interactive whitboards in some of the classrooms - most have just simple whiteboards. Less money than the private buts still a hell of a lot more that the private school here. When I frrist went to Jamee's school and she told me it was private, i had to double take. I was like "Woah!" I wasn't expecting top of the range or anything, but it wasn't that. When you entre the building and look straight ahead (and slightly to the left) there is a building that seems to crumble. The boarding houses are cramped. The toilets are not nice (although that may be my European views coming through, I admit, I am a Toilet snob. I mean I've been to drop holes in China with crap all around the hole and some of them were in better condition that some of the loos I have been to (not used as i said i am a snob)) They were still using chalk... I haven't seen chalk in a school since i was in - I'm thinking like Yr 2 but that can't be right! How can they be so far behind us? How - WHY - have the rest of the world let this happen!! Where is the justice in that? Why should the children suffer educationally? What's the point of the charities when they can't even provide basic stuff. It's upsetting.
