Generally speaking, the public exam results have been very disappointing country wide this year. However, this has once again, not been the case in EducAid. We have seen student after student come with absolutely excellent grades which opens the doors for their future. This is a sign of great patience and endurance through very difficult circumstances on the part of the majority of the students as well as much hard work from the staff. According to the West African Exams Council only one international school was able to beat EducAid but they have refused to name it! 26 students entered the exams and despite a wide range of ability in the group, only 2 have failed to get clear grades for University. Several got 9 out of 9 credits and above and a number got a stream of merits. We are very proud of staff and students and hope that this will provide an even greater incentive to those following in their footsteps.  |
| Brima Will receiving his bag of rice for achieving the best results in the school. Brima teaches Literature in English and no student got less than a credit. |
Sunday, September 25, 2011
2nd in the country in the senior public exams
Monday, September 19, 2011
Proud of them
I am working this term based in Maronka, a tiny village in the Northern province. Kofi is attending our primary school here too.
The school is run by a number of 'junior staff' i.e. Our past students who are hoping for sponsorship or already under-going distance teacher training.
Although we have junior staff in all locations the Maronka deal is a much more full-on option than all the others. There are over 80 little ones that live with us and the junior staff are in loco parentis for the hoards.
Sumaila Bockarie is the latest addition to the staff. He got 9 credits in the senior public exams last year and is clearly very bright. He hopes to do engineering at Uni if he can find a sponsor (fingers crossed for that).
When I told him he had been placed in Maronka, he was clearly somewhat perturbed. It turns out that he has hardly ever left Freetown previously, never mind live in a tiny remote village with 10 buildings making up its entirety!
I have to admit to being very impressed with his attitude and approach once he had got passed the original gulp moment. He is creative, hard working and committed to his students. I am working particularly with him over the next weeks and am really looking forward to it.
I am increasingly very proud of how these youngsters are willing to use their education for the benefit of those coming up after them. If this attitude continues there is much hope for the future.
If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's'work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans please go to www.educaid.org.uk
The school is run by a number of 'junior staff' i.e. Our past students who are hoping for sponsorship or already under-going distance teacher training.
Although we have junior staff in all locations the Maronka deal is a much more full-on option than all the others. There are over 80 little ones that live with us and the junior staff are in loco parentis for the hoards.
Sumaila Bockarie is the latest addition to the staff. He got 9 credits in the senior public exams last year and is clearly very bright. He hopes to do engineering at Uni if he can find a sponsor (fingers crossed for that).
When I told him he had been placed in Maronka, he was clearly somewhat perturbed. It turns out that he has hardly ever left Freetown previously, never mind live in a tiny remote village with 10 buildings making up its entirety!
I have to admit to being very impressed with his attitude and approach once he had got passed the original gulp moment. He is creative, hard working and committed to his students. I am working particularly with him over the next weeks and am really looking forward to it.
I am increasingly very proud of how these youngsters are willing to use their education for the benefit of those coming up after them. If this attitude continues there is much hope for the future.
If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's'work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans please go to www.educaid.org.uk
Thursday, September 8, 2011
New term
Some real enthusiasm for the new term and some incredibly frustrating casual attitudes born of their experience in the government schools where nobody starts at the beginning and lessons are effective from approximately 2 weeks into term.
So many of the kids are to be found engaged in selling various items. Their parents (guardians) can take weeks to release them.
One day we may break through this and get the guardians to see the need for a change of approach but we certainly have not managed this year. It is also compounded by the fact that the government schools are starting particularly late due to disputes over teachers' salaries.
Meanwhile though there are high levels of motivation among the kids that are in Maronka. I had to kick half the class out today to go and get their lunch, they were so keen to meet the day's challenge and collect their stars.
Kofi is settling in well and I am loving being here albeit feeling a little sorry for myself with a rare bout of malaria :(
So many of the kids are to be found engaged in selling various items. Their parents (guardians) can take weeks to release them.
One day we may break through this and get the guardians to see the need for a change of approach but we certainly have not managed this year. It is also compounded by the fact that the government schools are starting particularly late due to disputes over teachers' salaries.
Meanwhile though there are high levels of motivation among the kids that are in Maronka. I had to kick half the class out today to go and get their lunch, they were so keen to meet the day's challenge and collect their stars.
Kofi is settling in well and I am loving being here albeit feeling a little sorry for myself with a rare bout of malaria :(
Saturday, September 3, 2011
New term
Staff numbers just over 70 now and we are all re-dispersing after a good but exhausting week together of meetings and training. The 70+ included a good group of our most recent ex-students who are now joining the ranks of the educators. Great to see!
Good luck for a great year, everyone!
If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk and www.sierraleonegirls.blogspot.com
Issa - in China
Issa - in China - working hard and having a fair amount of fun at the same time, by the looks of things......
Keep it up, Issa. We miss you but we are very proud of your achievements so far - you are a wonderful role model to those coming up behind you.
If you would like to know more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to, www.educaid.org.uk and www.sierraleonegirls.blogspot.com
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