Mentoring and training: working wonders

Kahabi Silvesta, Mentor, Uhuru Primary School

  After we started this mentoring programme with the teachers there have been many changes. Now they are using participatory methods during their lessons. They involve all the students, boys and girls, in the teaching, and are helping those that are a bit slower.

Photo: Adam Davies

Emanuel Enock, Mentor, Kizumbi Primary School

  As a mentor I try my best to help the teachers. I help them in the whole process of preparation for their classes as well as the teaching methods. In the past, if a teacher did not understand something they just skipped the topic. Now, they are not afraid of asking for support.

Photo: Adam Davies

Patricia Shija, Teacher

  I appreciate very much the mentoring programme because it has really helped me a lot as a teacher. There is more unity and co-operation among the teachers now and no one is afraid of his colleagues. We can all see that there is nothing wrong with asking a fellow teacher for help now.

Photo: Adam Davies

Geroge Mgomi, Teacher, Busanda Primary School

  Before the training the teacher was the only one speaking in the classroom. Now the students are more confident and they participate by doing things themselves. They are less inhibited and better able to express themselves – they can even tell me if I make a mistake.

Photo: Adam Davies

Angeline Chacha, pupil at Mwenge Primary School

  In the old days, the teacher would come into the classroom, tell us the lesson, write on the blackboard, and then go. But now, they teach us well and involve us in the process of learning. Our teacher puts us in groups, explains things properly, and we understand better.

Photo: Adam Davies

James Paschal, pupil at Mwenge Primary School

  The thing I like at school is the quality of the teaching. The teachers are involving us in the teaching process, not like before when the teacher would come into the classroom and teach without allowing us to ask questions and without knowing if we understood or not. Now we are allowed to ask questions and if we don't understand something they explain it to us.

Photo: Adam Davies

Donald Francis, School Committee member, Kizumbi

  As a member of the school committee I have benefited a lot from this training. Firstly, we have realised our responsibilities as committee members. Secondly, we learnt how to involve the community in school development activities like academia and teaching in general.

Photo: Adam Davies

Anna Maria Shija, Parent, Kizumbi village

  After Oxfam's training there has been a lot of progress. These days the students are doing well. They like their lessons and understand them better. If they have a problem they ask the teacher and he explains things. When they come back home they tell us that they enjoyed their lessons.

Photo: Adam Davies

John Ngegeshi, Parent, Ishinabulandi village

  The education that my children get also helps me. For example, they have explained to me about issues like HIV and AIDS. I know that it is a big obstacle for development if it enters a family, as well as for the nation which spends resources fighting the disease instead of concentrating on other important development issues.

Photo: Adam Davies