Basic School- the Elementary Years

We started the morning out by going to a basic school, also known as a primary school (elementary). Education in Ghana has a lot of similarities but differences at the same time as compared to the United States. The morning started by meeting the headmaster of Omega Schools, a rather young chain of schools in Ghana. Here we met with one of the people in charge so he could explain how his schools were run.

The theory here in Ghana is that it is idea for a student to go to a private primary (elementary) school, and then go a public Secondary School (High School). When I asked Ghanaians about the public schools at the primary level, they all stated that kids learn next to nothing. Of course, this made me sad, but I wanted to see what was so awesome about the private schools....so that is where we started our day.

At Omega schools, they are growing each year. They started out with 20 schools and they add over 20 each year. The schools were started to help poor children get a chance to get a good education. People here who live in poverty know the only way out is through education, and due to that the parents will do anything they can to get their child into a private school. Omega schools charges 1 cedi and 50 pesways (not sure how to spell that!) PER DAY that a child comes to school. Each morning they collect the money as the kids come to school, and the money covers a uniform, lunch each day, school supplies, and books. Children are also given 15 free passes to use throughout the year in case they can't get the money for that day of school. Parents of these children are often finding work on a daily basis or selling things in the street to get by for that day, and that is why the "pay per day" system works so well here. I was also told that you can save your 15 passes per year and use them the next year, but that doesn't happen much. Usually kids give their passes away to others who can't afford it. Often times on the way home from school kids will try and sell things in the street or find work so they can go to school the next day.....wow.

The majority of the children that attend are the first in their family's history to get a formal education. Even though public schools are free, you still have to pay for things like a uniform, books, supplies, testing fees, etc, and that is why Omega Schools came in to help create a school system that worked for low income families.

When we arrived at Omega School, there were 1200 children. They were all very well behaved and respectful in the classrooms. There is no electricity at school, and there is literally only cement walls and desks with chairs. Omega Schools participate in the National Curriculum set by the government for all schools, and they were proud to report that their students outperformed private and public schools. Their students also place into the best Secondary Schools in the nation (remember you have to "apply" for High School and be accepted ALL depending on test scores).

Overall the attendance at Omega Schools is high- around 93%. The rates for attendance for public schools is only 78%.

You may have heard, but corporal punishment is legal in Ghana, but most private schools do not allow it. Today the other half of my teacher team went to see a public school, and they said that in order to cane a student, there has to be a witness and it has to be written up. Most students do not want to be caned (of course not...it hurts!), so they behave. At the private school that I was at today, they do not cane their students, but many parents want them to. In fact one parent even donated 50 canes to school to help keep kids from making poor choices.

There is some gender inequality when it comes to education in Ghana. The law states that it is free and compulsory for everyone, but not everyone actually goes to school (see blog from yesterday). Often times students have to walk miles to school, and many girls have been raped on the way to or from school. This is a big problem here. Due to this, parents keep their daughters at home to keep them safe. REMEMBER this is not the case for ALL girls, this is just a social problem in some areas of the county. Also, traditionally girls are seen as taking care of the home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children/family which means there is no time nor need for an education. This mindset is slowly changing, but it is hard due to cultural and traditional beliefs.

Overall, today was a huge WOW for me. It is hard to believe that I come from a school where every kid has his own Macbook computer. They have been a HUGE blessing to us, but at the same time I know that even I as a teacher don't realize how good we have it until I am put in a situation like today. Americans enjoy having a free education, while there are kids here literally "working" for their own education to better themselves and their families. As a teacher it makes me so upset when I see kids at school playing games and complaining about having a computer. Really? The kids here at the public school only get to use a computer twice a month, and they have to walk 6 km to get there! AH!!!! Just sit back and be thankful for all that you have, and then ask yourself how you can help others :)

On another note, I ventured out this evening to do some fair trade shopping. In order to get a taxi, you must "hiss" to call their attention, and then bargain your ride. Meredith, Wendy and I went into town to go to the grocery store and the fair trade shop called, "Global Mamas."

Tomorrow morning our entire group splits off to other parts of the country. Meredith and I are paired together and are headed to Cape Coast, a 4 hour drive from here. There we will meet our host and stay at the University of Cape Coast. From there we will start our work at Wesley Girls School. Time for bed as we have an early morning in order to get to school on time!!!