The school bell is rung at 8:30 and classes start as soon as possible; however there are usually a few teachers who don't show up for class due to transport difficulties as Makoka primary school is situated a good distance from any nearby towns and villages. This is an issue that we are hoping to eradicate with the construction of the Kipling-Batten block and Lower School teachers dormitory blocks.
 |
| The Lower School accommodation block taking shape |
Having sat in on a few lessons ourselves, it was astounding to see the variation in ages and ability in each class; for example the age range in P3 being 7-16 years. This automatically creates a huge set back for the teacher who is pushed to try to bridge the gaps in their knowledge; a seemingly impossible task with 100 children to attend to. Children who fail their exams at the end of the year simply have to retake that year as many times as it takes for them to pass, meaning some children get stuck in this cycle and are unable to progress with their education.
 |
| A small class at Makoka Primary School |
Despite these issues, the head mistress of the school tries her upmost to maintain a motivated, welcoming and friendly environment for the not only the pupils but for visitors like us. One example of her kindness was during our last stay in the village - she asked each pupil to bring us a gift to thank us for our work at Makoka. We ended up wondering what to do with the 600 avocados we received! Her attitude and vision for the school were key influences as to why HYT decided to locate 1V4 at Makoka Primary and why we continue to work there now. Working alongside her over the past few months, it has been clear that her heart is set on giving the pupils the best possible education and therefore opportunities in life.
 |
| Us and the headmistress with her school after having received their generous gift. |