Jamhuri and Ulamba Primary Schools

 Today we are visiting 2 schools in Tabora. The first is Jamhuri Primary School which we have been supporting for 2 years and have 3 computers and a printer. The school is located about 15 minutes drive from our hotel. The main roads in Tabora are tarmac but there are still some big holes on more minor roads and today there is still some evidence of last nights rain. To us Tabora has a different feel to many Tanzania towns probably due to being developed from scratch by the German’s in the 1880’s, the wide roads with trees lining them on both sides are a result of their town planning.

When we arrive at the school we are met by the Headteacher and taken to her office where we are joined by a member of then School Committee, the Academic Teacher and 2 other teachers.

We have a good chat about how things have gone over the last year. The teacher who has been sending me the reports has done a really good job. She is not there today as she has just had a baby girl. She will be back in March but in the meantime 2 other teachers will take over writing the reports. The school make good use of the computers with the students having ICT lessons during the school day and a computer club every afternoon after school. There is not much community involvement here at the moment and we encourage them to try and address this.

Today we are giving them 2 more computers, which they are very pleased about. The Headteacher signs the loan contract and we then move to the computer room. 

This room is actually larger than I remember and has plenty of room for more computers. They have also recently added more electric sockets.

Aaron, Frank and some children bring in the new computers and set them up.

We are then served some snacks and drinks. Apparently when we have finished eating the tables will be moved and used for the 2 new computers.

Once we have finished eating we visit some of the classrooms and talk to the children. This school has 1026 children, 14 teachers and 11 classrooms. It’s nice to talk to the children about the computers and how they will need to be ICT literate even in Tanzania, by the time they are looking jobs.

By the time we leave we have been at the school for about 2 and a half hours. We now make the 20 minute drive out of town to Ulamba Primary School.

When we arrive the children are having a break from lessons and we are quickly surrounded.

We are greeted by Ben, the teacher who sends me the reports, and taken to meet the Headteacher in her office. We started supporting this school last year and at present they have 3 computers and a printer. This is a small school with just over 600 children and 6 teachers.

We sit down and have a chat about how they are getting on with the computers and check that there are no problems. Robert and I also talk to Ben about a few ways in which he can make his reports to me more interesting and informative. We then tell them that today we have brought them one more computer.

Frank and some children get the computer out of the van. We stop by the Standard 6 classroom before taking it into to the computer room. As you can see they were very happy to have another computer.

We then go to the computer room and Amos and Pascal, 2 students demonstrate that have learnt how to set up a computer.

At this point we are joined by various members of the local community including the Village Chairman, the Sub Village Chairman and the Ward Councillor.

I smile that there are some photos up on the wall of our visit last year.

Having set up the new computer Amos and Pascal check it works ok using some of their computer skills.

Before we have lunch we visit a few classrooms. In this school there are not enough desks so some children end up sitting on the floor. They are though extremely enthusiastic about having computers at their school and learning to use them. The Headteacher told us that the number of children wanting to come to this school has increased in the last year because they are the only school in the ward with computers.

We now have lunch. The lady who prepared it all had cooked it in a small room just off the Headteacher’s office.

We are offered pilau, white rice, chicken, salad and watermelon.

We are joined by teachers and the members of the local community.

Once we have finished eating both the Headteacher and the Ward Councillor give short speeches thanking us for our support.

It is now about 2.30 and Robert needs to get to the bank before it closes so we say our goodbyes and leave. 

Both the schools we have visited today have been a pleasure to support and have been extremely grateful and hospitable, which makes all the hard work worthwhile. 

Frank drives us back to Tabora. Since we have been here he has taken over the driving from Aaron on the pretence that he knows the roads, but secretly I think he just likes driving the van.

Robert is trying to send some money to the U.K. to pay for a shipment of computers. This process is of course not straightforward and seems to involve several visits to different banks as well as stationers to print out various documents. After a while we decide it is not worth us just hanging around and so Frank drops us back at the hotel.

We have a quiet evening, sorting out photos, writing the blog and catching up with family.