This newly-appointed Education and Vocational Training minister, Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa announced recently new government strategies for improving quality of education in the country—with special focus on the primary, secondary and higher-learning education.
However, realization of these plans would be almost, if not quite, impossible, if private players would not be involved in the implementation of these education programmes. This week, Our Staff Writer JUDICA TARIMO interviewed Head Teacher of Sahara Nursery and Primary School, Pauline Mndolwa, on the contribution of private players in addressing some of the education challenges
Q: Before jumping to the main topic, could you please give us background of this school?
A: Yes, that’s good question. There is long story behind the establishment of Sahara school. We passed through some difficulties—in terms of securing funds for setting up the school buildings and making it registered with the relevant government institutions.
It was not easy, but a tough and tedious task which required a high level of commitment, determination and devotion on the part of the owner. After a long journey—registering the school, recruiting competent teachers, and other related administrative processes, we managed to register and establish the school in 2000. We are grateful to such remarkable achievement, and today some sessions of Tanzanians are enjoying fruits of education from the school which is located at Mabibo Sahara, Kinondoni District-Dar es Salaam.
Q: What are you doing to ensure provision of best quality education at the school?
A: Quality education service delivery is an important component not only in privately-owned but even in government-run schools. I agree that most of private schools tend to ignore this significant aspect in their education services. They concentrate much on the enrolment of more pupils, and forget to work out mechanisms to enhance, improve and maintain quality of education provided to the pupils.
We, at Sahara school, have tried set up a sold foundation for maintaining and regularly checking quality of education offered. At the onset, we make sure that the National Curriculum English Medium Syllabus is strictly followed. The school management has also installed effective mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating teachers’ models of operations to ensure that they are in line with the national English-medium curriculum. Besides, the school has recruited best, competent and qualified teachers.
There is a growing tendency, I think you are also aware of that, amongst many private schools of picking unqualified teachers from streets in order to reduce operational costs and maximize profit. I am not boasting, but I am saying that Sahara school has managed to employ qualified teachers, who are specialized in English medium education. Of course, these are the main factors which help the school ensure provision of quality education to the pupils.
Q: In many cases, we have seen that some of the private schools are operating without well-prepared academic schedule. Do you face the same problem?
A: Sahara school does not face such problem, as we have well-prepared and organized academic time-table. And I am telling you that everybody—school management, teachers and even parents of pupils, respect this academic schedule. We have different classes which accommodates pupils of different age. Firs of all, we have nursery section, which is divided into three classes, namely Baby Class, Middle Class and Pre-Unit. Pupils ranging from 2-6 years are enrolled in this nursery section.
For instance, Baby Class has babies aged between 2-3 years, Middle Class pupils aged between 2-5 years, and finally Pre-Unit are children aged between 5-6 years prepared to join primary school education. And teachers in this section are well trained and too conversant with childhood development—thus they are really loving and caring teachers.
The school has very busy days from Monday to Thursday. Fridays are used for sports and extra curricular activities which include games, swimming, signing and debating. Sahara school has supportive, qualified and experienced staffs who work exceptionally to ensure realization of high standards of academic and sporting excellence.
Q: Transportation of pupils to and from school is one of the biggest problems facing many pupils in Dar es Salaam. How do you assist your pupils in this?
A: We have a reliable transport system for the pupils—taking them from homes to school and verse-versa. The school administration in collaboration with parents, has earmarked specific locations from where a hired school bus picks pupils in the morning and return them after studies. But such transport is mostly used by day pupils, with the exception of some cases in which the school hires buses to take both day and boarding pupils for extra curriculum activities—swimming, study tour and other related activities outside the school compound.
Q: Provision of education provision in the fast-changing world of science and technologies is major challenge to many education providers. What do you do to cope up with these global development trends and dynamics?
A: In fact, our main vision is to prepare competent students for excellent careers both in private and government sectors with the view to cope with globalization. We believe that technology is the process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants. Technology includes computers and other information and communication infrastructures and facilities.
Having realized the importance of modern technologies in the learning and teaching processes in the increasingly globalizing world, Sahara school had introduced computer classes—starting from class three up to seven.
We have put up a modern computer facility or room, which is equipped with latest computers—to expose our pupils to various computer programmes and many other components related to computers.
On top of that, computer subject is examinable like other subjects in the school. The computer and related knowledge enable pupils to acquire needed skills to cope with the dynamics of computerized world.
Q: There is notion that a pupil cannot perform well in class if she or he not feed well. How do you ensure provision of sufficient food for the pupils?
A: The pupils at the school are served with well-cooked and delicious food at 10: 15 am and 12: 35pm. Teachers supervise the kids while eating and even assist in feeding the small ones who can’t feed themselves well. Kindergartens are provided with enough time for sleeping after lunch everyday.
And we are not buying food from anybody. We have contracted suppliers who supply the school with first-class and high-quality rice, beans, milk, fruits and variety of food often consumed by our pupils. In addition, we have assigned some people to regularly check quality food supplied by our suppliers and consumed by the pupils.
All these are some of the measures being taken by the school management to ensure pupils’ access to quality and standard food.
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