Longing for education

It would have been so nice to continue the T4T programs with Dutch head teachers, HoD’s and specialists SNE and ECDE next week. I remember the wonderful CBC lesson about plants last March and the powerful cooperation between Kenyan and Dutch teachers in the workshops. How new ideas about active learning were implemented in schools. It deserves continuation for the benefit of learners, who suffer from a complete standstill of education until January. It it not happening. But nevertheless we decided to empower the stakeholders of the projects in September-November. Francis Nzai created a strong plan to meet them to evaluate and look forward. The first meetings already took place this week. The Kenyan board discussed among others the Local Fundraising, which was about to come to a climax during the Final Celebration, but had to be cancelled due to covid 19. The fundraising is on hold now. They also looked forward to February, when Dutch teachers hopefully could visit Kwale. Their preliminary conclusions:

As Teachers for Teachers we are equally supposed to develop standards of operating procedures (SOPs) in line with the COVID protocols. This will bring different ways of operations during workshops.
A limited number of people allowed to gather, that means we will be required to divided a zone to 3 clusters instead of the 2 we are used to. This will only allow a few teachers for a workshop.

  1. A limited number of people allowed to gather, that means we will be required to divided a zone to 3 clusters instead of the 2 we are used to. This will only allow a few teachers for a workshop.
  2. Social distancing arrangements should be made; this will also affect choice of energizers during workshops.
  3. Hand washing/wearing mask/Sanitizing and temperature taking will be our new norm

Final celebration attendance will be for a few people depending on sitting arrangements and meeting the social distancing condition.
NOTE: T4T future program also depends on government policy after reopening of schools.

This week also the team leaders met each other. Nine of ten were present at the meeting, which is a rather good sign concerning the motivation. They reflected on the March program (very satisfied about the organization and quality of the Dutch teachers), the roles of the team leaders and the future of the T4T programs during and after the covid. Off course there was disappointment about missing the final celebration. Looking to the near future the group subscribed the conclusion that they need to support the T4T programs.Next meeting the future of T4T program will  be discussed so as to come up with concrete standards that will govern the program. It might be a zoom meeting.

Meanwhile the financial consequences of the continuation of the program in a slimmed-down way worry us. So long no Dutch teachers are visiting Kwale, the boards will not contribute. Their financial support is earmarked for educational purposes, as well for the Dutch teachers as for the Kenyan.

Let’s hope things will change in a positive direction in 2021.

Ruud Musman

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