To know nothing else is to want nothing more.

“To know nothing else is to want nothing more.” –David Lamb, author “The Africans”

Field trip to Arusha National Park with standard 7

If you have never seen a map, how would you know where your country is or for that matter, your continent? If you’ve never put a puzzle together, how would you know the straight edges go on the outside? If you’ve never experienced interactive teaching, how would you know how to actively learn rather than parrot and be scared of your teacher?

Education in Tanzania is modeled after the British and German system from a half century ago, with little change since then. When Tanzania became independent the British colonialists left this country on its own. Some of you may remember regurgitating information that was lectured. Some also remember being hit by your teacher. This is the norm for Tanzania.

A child enters his or her local government school at the age of six, along with 60 to 100 other children who share one room, one teacher, 10 books, 15 desks and a black board. School is thirteen years here like in Germany. So, kindergarten – standard 7 is primary school. If a child passes the standard 7 exam they can enter Form 1. Form 1 – 4 are our high school and 5and 6 are kind of like junior college. If a person has an education through Form 6 their education is beyond 98% of their fellow countrymen. Vocational school, diaconal school, or going home to the family are the options if a non passing score is obtained in standard 7.

Government primary school in Karatu

Primary school is mandated by the government and is supposedly free although uniforms and school supplies are not provided and are a must. Also, many children stay home to take care of siblings, parents, and/ or farms. Teachers earn two thousand five hundred to three thousand dollars per year. Remember the average daily wage is $1.50 per day.

Most private schools are significantly better by having more books, better teachers, and more workable class sizes; and better students. Private schools cost $750.00 – 1,200.00 per year and many are boarding schools. So, yes, this includes tuition, room and board. Teachers earn between $4,600.00 – 7,000.00.

Six percent of the children go on to our equivalent of high school (forms 1 – 6). When this country gained its’ independence there were 120 professionals in the country. The literacy rate was 15 percent. After Julius Nyerere (“the father of Tanzania”) became president, the literacy rate jumped to over 90 percent.

Last January, one hundred thousand teachers were needed. The government put out an order. If you have a primary education (finished 7 grade) you must teach at the primary level and those with form 4 or above were to teach the upper levels. We visited Marangu Teachers College with the Crowners in January where Dave’s aunt started the library. The books she brought in 1952 are still used today, thus NO inventive, interactive, stimulating teaching methods are used in the classroom today.

Kate was given a book, St. Judes by one of their sailors this past summer. This book has been our beacon of light as it explains how education CAN work in Tanzania. It was written by Gemma Sisia. She is an Australian who married her Tanzanian safari driver and at the age of 23 began work on St. Jude’s School. Her classes are all in English. The school is a model of how progressive education can work. In fact it’s really the only hope. We read her book, watched St. Jude’s promotional video, and have visited the school three times now.

Her father-in-law gave them a small piece of land which has grown into 3 campuses educating 1200 students in and around Arusha. This school is amazing. Their mission statement is “Fighting Poverty through Education.” They take only the brightest and poorest children. If one child is educated this will sustain the whole family in Africa. St. Judes has passionate, educated people to carry out their challenging plan. We are hopeful that great new leadership can be born out of schools like St. Judes and Faraja.

Faraja is really a private school with its’ computer lab, a library, field trips, 16 – 25 children per class and having western overseers; the Tolmie family. The graduates in standard 7 will be going backwards if they go to a government school next year. Our visit to Old Moshi, a secondary government school, where 5 graduates from Faraja are in form 2 was startling. I felt as though I was in a movie set. The school was built in 1932 by the British. Again, not much has changed or been upgraded since independence.

Upon seeing the boys’ report cards, we decided mostly D’s and F’s really were not what we wanted for the students we have taught for the past six months. Half of the students at Old Moshi Secondary pass the form 4 exam; there are no computers for the students and although English is the official language starting in Form 1 (8^th grade) their English is horrendous. Sharon, Daniel, Gerald, Johari, Victoria, Emmanuel to name a few of the Faraja students’, English is much better than these students who are in form 2. We will be visiting several good private schools within the next 6 weeks. Pastor Kileo’s children attended or are attending private schools. Fourteen of the sixteen standard 7 students here are bright enough to succeed in secondary school. Four or five of them are brilliant.

It is our goal to get sponsorships to private schools for most of class 7 students.

Faraja’s motto is, “Education is the key to life.” After being here working with these wonderful students, we are certain this is true.