Day 10: Igoma Primary School

All I can say is . . . Wow! Visiting Igoma Primary School with 2528 students/43 teachers/16 classrooms was a real treat. Timothy Lugejuna, now the Chairman of ETT Board of Directors, was the principal of this school for 10 years. I still have to get the details of his story, but I do know he was responsible for making some very big changes and improving this school immensely. Timothy drove me to the school at 7:30 am so we could witness their bi-weekly assembly to begin their day. The school's buildings are shaped in a large horseshoe, with a giant courtyard in the middle. It is here that the students assemble in rows. A prefect (older student) leads the entire student body in opening exercises, singing the national anthem,

and helps organize their dismissal. Today a particular class had the honour of coming in with drums to then perform and lead the student body in another song. With so many choreographed bodies, it reminded me of the opening ceremonies to the Olympics. The students sing their national anthem with such pride and volume - it really puts many of the classes I've been in to shame and I always sing our anthem. We have a great country - why aren't we as patriotic?

Below is a picture of past and present principals: Timothy Lugejuna and Juliana Madaha.  I spent almost 6 hours at this school, visiting many of the classes and 'teaching' when I could - comparing Canada to Tanzania, teaching some math tricks, and teaching a primary song. Talk about cute when the kindergarten students repeat everything I say - including me saying "Repeat after me". This school has a special education class with two teachers, a physical education teacher, teacher washrooms nearby, a number of small staff rooms for teachers of the same Level(grade) to work together, electricity, a small store, and a photocopier that (although busted today) seems to be used only when the principal deems it necessary and unlocks the small package of paper from her filing cabinet. Can you imagine?! There is also a class for 'delayed entry' students - those who started school later than the suggested kindergarten age of 6. Students are required by law to go to school, but if they began late - this class allows them to work at a lower level than their peers. There is a range of ages from 9 to 13.  
Below is an incomplete chart of the school's population - pupils/teachers.

By the way, the charts and schedules are all hand-written. It is unbelievable the penmanship of the people - adults and students. All work is very organized and precise. The math facts are memorized at a very young age - no calculators are used. 

While I was visiting classes, if students asked questions, I put a small Canada sticker on their hand. This became a very big deal, with students trying to switch seats so I might take a second question from the same student. Some students got stickers because I saw them still trying to work while others were being silly. Any students who showed leadership also earned a sticker. It was a lot of fun.