Teaching
at St. Charles Lwanga Primary School has been great fun and nourishing
experience for Dominic and I. We go to school every Thursday morning on
bicycles. It’s quite a long trip, mostly going uphill. I remember while coming
back from our first day of ministry, Dominic said to me, “We must get used to
this going uphill to school every Thursday morning, bro.” Almost five months
ago, travelling to St. Charles seemed long and hard. Today, Dominic and I see
that the trip is just another short trip around the corner.
The
students and staff are very kind and helpful. Their approach to people like us
– Novices – has been very encouraging. They are very respectful and
always approach us just to know if we are well. At St. Charles we
quickly felt at home as people came to us and welcomed us.
Most
students come from families whose daily income depends entirely on farming.
Thus when it comes to the dry season, life becomes difficult for the students
to attend school, especially the girls.
While female students are about half of each class at this time of the
year, at other times girls are required to work at home and so attendances
drop.
Dominic
and I both teach in year six, which is the final year of primary in Ghana. Students are obedient when asked to do
something, but, like all school children when left alone, need some effort to
keep them in order. Teaching has meant a growth in patience on our part. The school year is just ending so our
students have been writing exams for entrance into Junior Secondary School (JSS). Contributing
to them gaining entrance to JSS, and so being able to continue their education,
is very satisfying for us.
Dominic and I have learnt a lot in different ways through our encounters
with students and teaching staff. The school comprises mostly Muslim students, with
some from Christian and traditional backgrounds. Being in a school like this
gives us a broader experience of interacting with people of different faiths
and traditions. Christians and Muslims
in the school work along well and respect each other’s values and beliefs.
Though the students are not in the stage of identifying contradicting values of
the two religions, the values of their cultural traditions have contributed a
lot in maintaining peace and harmony.
The students come from families and villages who mostly have just the
basics. Their life is simple, but this
very simplicity of the students has affected us. Being with these children gives us joy and a
desire to learn more about them. Though
our time at the school has come to an end, we have been greatly enriched by our
time there.
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| Francis ToLiman with Class 6 Students |
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| Dominic with student friends |
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| We are Champions! |
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| Who says teachers can't dance for their students? |
