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Teacher-Training Program

Get a colourful insight viewing the Photo Gallery.

Watch a video of an English lesson at a rural preschool before joining boNGO's Program.

Watch a video of a example lesson by Justin at one of the involved Preschools.

Read the stories of teachers involved in the Program: William, Bessie, Blessings, Esmie.

 

Background:

Over the last decade many communities have started their own preschools, so called CBCCs (Community Based Childcare Centers) in which they look after children aged 2 to 7. At these centers children are thought basic skills (counting, writing, English) in order to get prepare for primary school. Teachers at such centers are generally local volunteers chosen by the community. Some of them have only primary education and no previous teaching experience. The centers have usually little to no resources (books, pencils, papers or toys). Often even the school structure itself is missing, classes are thought under a tree and during rainy season (November till April) can't take place on a regular basis.

 

This combination of factors makes the standard of provided education very low - the teachers are often over-challenged with teaching up to 80 kids for a whole morning while lacking knowledge, ideas, resources and general support. Therefore the school routine is based on teacher-led lessons, children sitting in rows, the teacher standing at the front, often ordering one child after the other to stand up and repeat after him or her. Children at such schools are hardly encouraged to be creative, share their ideas or think for themselves. They are rarely given individual attention and support, which limits their opportunities to explore their potential.

 

 

Aim of the program:

Broadening the capacity of rural preschools and CBCCs, ensuring:

  • Holistic and child-focused education and care for the children based on a rural Malawian setting
  • A happy and safe working and learning environment for everyone
  • A sustainable CBCC / preschool set up and management

 

Achievements:

  • Establishing a working group of 51 teachers from 17 local preschools and Community Based Childcare Centers (CBCCs)
  • Holding two initial teacher-training workshops (10 days each) in co-operation with the Association of Preschool Playgroups in Malawi and the District Social Welfare Office in Blantyre
  • Continuous quarterly and monthly teacher trainings and meetings at the Umodzi-Mbame Model Childcare Center
  • Regular production of learning and playing materials which are being used by the teachers in their respective schools
  • Development and continuous evaluation of the "boNGO ECD Teacher's Support Manual" - a simple guide book for rural preschool teachers lacking resources and teaching experiences
  • Monthly supervision and assessment visits to the participating preschools
  • Weekly supervision to the Model Childcare Center of Umodzi-Mbame CBO and Mango Preschool of Tiyende Pamodzi CBO which is in the process of becoming a Model Childcare7Community Center

 

Summary and Figures:

  • 2 Model Childcare Centers in development
  • 17 Community Based Childcare Centers (CBCCs) and preschools involved in the Program
  • 51 involved teachers and caregivers
  • 7 teacher trainings per year in 2007 and 2008 (in total 52 days of training each year)
  • Almost 1,200 children benefiting

 

Goals for 2009/2010:

  • Continuing trainings and sustaining supervision/assessment visits. How: Involving teachers from Umodzi-Mbame Model Childcare Center in running these tasks, supported and overseen by the boNGO Program Director.
  • Finalizing the first version of the "boNGO ECD Teacher's Support Manual" and distributing/selling it to other interested parties. How: Completing manual evaluation in co-operation with the teachers and partners involved in the program; promoting it among interested networks, along with an introductory workshop at one of the Model Childcare Centers.
  • Strengthening the co-operation with the relevant partners in order to enhance and promote the Program. How: Regular reports to relevant partners; co-operation in trainings and workshops.
  • Involving three additional community preschools which expressed their interest (136 children, 4 teachers). How: Inviting them for trainings at Umodzi-Mbame Model Childcare Center; visiting their schools and meeting with their school committees; including them in the general program activities.