The education system in Tanzania is slightly different than in the U.S. because after Form II and Form IV the girls are required to take a national test that is pass or fail. It covers all their subjects including, Science, Math, English, Swahili, Civics, History and Geography. If the girls pass, they may continue in school; if not, they move home to their village (some do try to get into another school and study again for the test, but not many). Form I classes usually have about 65 girls and by the start of Form III that number is reduced to half and after Form IV it is reduced to even less. Unfortunately, the tests are designed to eliminate students. I don't believe this system encourages education in this country. The Girls school works very hard to prepare the girls for these tests. The Form IV girls have been preparing this week for the test to start next week and they are just stressed out. I really feel for them, that their whole future depends on a test. It has been like this for decades. I can't imagine.
For those that do make it to Form VI and do well on their placement exams for college, they have the opportunity to move on. Girls from the school have gone on - one to medical school, a lawyer, a pastor, and numerous teachers including several who have come back to the MaaSae school to teach. Several girls have had the opportunity to attend Concordia College in Moorhead, through the help of their sponsors.
This week I had the opportunity to teach 12 periods of basic Accounting to the Form III girls (there are two sections of girls for each Form). It was a great teaching experience, because they were so attentive and participated during class with great questions. I had become used to my Thai 4 and 5 year old children whose attention span is a bit shorter and I loved that my subject was Accounting rather than the Grade 1 reading books (not that I didn't enjoy those)!
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