Malawi Day 4
First wifi and power for 24 hours so typing quickly!
Our work took us to Chitsime Primary in Ndirande today to meet familiar faces and new ones too. I was very sorry not to meet Mr Banda the wonderful former Chair of the School Management Committer but he has given up his post while remaining committed to helping out.We were joined by the two PEAs, Jean and Charles. It was great to see Charles again after his visit to Glasgow.
Estery had settled really well as the HT and the ongoing commitment from the school community is a real support in one of the most challenging environments which MLOL work. 5008 children with up to 260 children in a room built for 80. Even so, learners are attentive and teachers are working hard to prepare them for both examinations and the world ahead.
The school has made some good improvements this year while still addressing priorities around learning, teaching and assessment. Carol and I worked hard to offer as many solutions and as much advice as possible although the congestion makes active, dynamic teaching very difficult.
As usual there were stories which made us really appreciate the context including the passionate telling of how the Mothers' Group supported a 14 year old mother back to school and were able to tell of the baby's wellbeing and the young mum's attainment progress!
A definite highlight was the vigour of James, vice chair of the PTA. New to the post he provided the most polite, respectful and yet fierce challenge to my evaluation of the school evidence. Over the day we really worked to build trust and to great effect. He has a vision to get more sewing machines and use them to train learners for a vocation. I was able to suggest he visit Zingwangwa PS where Hastings and his team have done just that. On leaving us he told Carol and I every minute had been a privilege. I agreed- having untrained but entirely committed community representatives engage so well in professional discussion is a privilege for us to see.
Second highlight of the day was seeing the fabulous library block, built by Holyrood, with its new librarian..........MacToshack! The books were beautifully arranged by standard, the records showed many hundreds of children AND parents borrowing books and queue of about 100 waiting outside. We were both really touched, but not so emotional we couldn't leave him a wee library task to complete before Carol returns in June! Fabulous stuff MacToshack!
The day ended with a feast of samosas and custard creams provided by the Mothers' Group then home to write the report and prepare for Nawiyo tomorrow.
Later in the day the rains came and with a vengeance! Although the rains have been on time and much greater this year, with the local maize crops much healthier than last year, apparently the levels in the Shire River are low so the district cuts off the power. I continued to sit outside my room under a canopy squeezing the last of the light during the rains and attracted quizzical looks from the young doctors returning from their shift at the local hospital. I thought my explanation sufficient: I am from Scotland 
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