The Whole Act Of Teaching...

Madam Faustina Essuman is a teacher at Kanda Estate 1 primary school.She has taken it upon herself to teach the pupils of class 6 maths,english,science,ICT and citizenship education.She studied psychology and she is a trained teacher.According to her,the opportunity she had to study psychology has helped her now in her teaching skills.She is able to "read the minds of her students,know them better as well as the appropriate teaching method".

Madam!so what motivates you to teach in a school this?"I am a mother and that motherly love keeps me going.And one thing is that;I really love kids.The fact that I wake up every morning and with the hopes that i'll meet these kids just gives me some new energy of a sort.I also love to impact people's lives and I believe i'm using these wonderful kids to do that in my little way".

The class 6 teacher seems to be dedicated to her work as a teacher.But some challenges make her efforts go waste sometimes.She talks about her encounter with pupils in class 4;fourteen pupils had no exercise books so couldn't write their test.She goes on to talk about the fact that parents are making their work very difficult.Some parents have no interest at all in the performance of their wards at school.They don't care at all if their wards have books or not.Wednesdays are market days and half of the pupils do not come to school.They are off to make some money leaving their books alone.How will she achieve her goal in this situation?She laments.

Teaching at Kanda Estate 1 Primary is not practical.There are no materials available to help teachers to effectively teach their pupils.One teacher to many subjects is also a challenge.A teacher can be loaded with at least four subjects and this stresses them.A teacher for instance may not be well vest in a particular subject but he or she is forced to give off his or her best.Though one of the stressful works,their salary is not encouraging.Madam Faustina blames the government.

Sandwiched between these challenges;teacher Faustina has developed some strategies to help her class and teaching to be effective.Her approach to teaching is more of child-centered type,very interactive and engaging.She is very approachable hence giving her an upper hand to know her pupils more and we're a big family.She added.She also announces the best pupil at the end of every term.This urges other students to catch up quickly.

Madam Faustina Essuman is a rare gem contributing her quota in her little corner to promote development.I salute selfless teachers like her.

Madam Faustina's Class.Picture by Prosper Mawuli Dagba

The Blackboard Style Of Teaching. Picture Credit:Prosper Mawuli Dagba

Question Time. Picture Credit:Prosper Mawuli Dagba

Pupils Enjoying Their  Lesson. Picture Credit: Prosper Mawuli Dagba

State Of Building @ Kanda Estate 1 Primary.

Kanda Estate 1 Primary school has been bedeviled with a couple of infrastrustural challenges.One which is top on the list is the state of their school building.It is very appalling and disheartening to know that the school has a good location but it not getting the needed attention for development.What may be the possible reason?Could it be that;because the school is a governmental institution,so this is bound to happen?
These politicians before coming to office,make various promises ranging from changing the state of buildings of primary schools and the likes.Where are they now?I may sound alittle political...yes!!!Because i'm looking at this issue from the mode of ownership.Obviously Kanda Estate 1Primary is owned by the government therefore one would not expect an individual from the school to take up this "mess" as if it were a private institution.

I wonder if the first gentleman of the land and his ministers have their children in government primary schools like Kanda Estate 1Primary?I'm very sure your answer is not different from mine.To them;it is embarassing and shameful to have their children attend such schools but they won't put them in good shape for the ordinary parent's child.The greedy and selfish politicians will always embezzle that little money allocated for the up keep of these schools.After all there are no proper systems to put them in check.

The school building has cracks all over and what worries me most is that it's a storey building.A massive quake and about hundreds of school children will be dead because the building would have collapsed.The paintings are gradually playing no role on the building making it look awful.The ceiling leaks badly when it rains making it difficult for the students to study.The only wall that hols the cluster together is partly broken.The partly broken wall faces the highway leading to Nima junction but nobody is willing to help.It's been months but the broken wall still "broken".

Take a close look at St.Pauls Lutheran School a private school closer to Kanda Cluster of schools;then look at Kanda Estate 1 Primary School.Though an abnormal comparism,what will be going through the minds of students of Kanda Estate 1 Primary,their teachers and even the headmistress considering the afore mentioned problems and the fact that a first rated school like St.Pauls school is closer to them?The psychological trauma,low self esteem,low motivation and bad results may be caused by this little but now huge problem.
My write up may be tagged as been alittle emotionalised but wait till you find your child or sibling in this "educational state"

The  Ceiling  In  A  Bad  State. Picture credit:Prosper Mawuli Dagba

Picture  by  Prosper  Mawuli  Dagba

The  School  Wall. Picture by  Prosper Mawuli  Dagba