Back in Namibia Sept. 08
on John and Dinah with VSO in Namibia (Namibia), 03/Sep/2008 11:47, 34 days ago
Lots of you who know us will already know that since I last wrote we have been for a visit to the UK. Too much of a pull was coming from there to resist any longer. We were treated very sympathetically by VSO and the school who actually altered the exam time-table to allow me to mark the Maths papers before leaving. Lessons had stopped so although there was invigilation and marking to be done the learners didn't suffer unduly from our departure. The English department were supportive and agreed to mark John's learner's papers.We found England and Wales very green and cold. Everyone there complaining bitterly about the weather, which we relished! I took loads of pictures of gardens and people back here in Namibia coo in disbelief at the emerald lushness. It is now almost 6 months since it rained here and although it is still, Spring very hot again by midday. It is lovely though as not too hot at night and great to see piercing blue skies again. Also we got a warm greeting from teachers and learners. It was hard to leave UK again but these things help alot and when the term gets going properly it will be better. It has trickled to a start. We got back here on Sat. evening and found a few teachers and learners. They had been here for one week of their 2 week vacation. These were grade 10 and 12 learners who are now very close to sitting their big exams in October. Only 50% of the learners in this region pass grade 10 and 20% pass grade 12 (equivalent to G.C.S.E.). This is the weakest in the whole of Namibia and understandable when you consider the disadvantages that must be overcome to achieve this.The biggest problem is language. English is seldom spoken outside of lessons by many learners. Yet they must do all subjects in English. Take a relatively simple Maths problem which they could certainly do, pose it in English and chaos. eg. A spade is reduced by 35% on day one of a sale and then reduced again next day to 50% of it's original price. It originally cost N$16 and I brought one on the first day of the sale. How much more would I have saved if I had bought it a day later? Confused? You will be. I bet even strong Maths students at that level in England might get tripped up. Then again in the English exam they were asked where Victoria lived. If they said in a traditional house made of mud and reeds, nil marks. The only acceptable answer is apparently 'on the banks of the Kavango river'. Teachers can be harsh! Another example of this was when something was marked wrong because the I looked like a plain vertical line (ie. how I write my capital i's)Next big thing is that this is the poorest area in Namibia with between 90 and 95% people living in traditional houses without running water or electricity. Most live near the river and you see water carried in huge containers on heads (mostly by women). 70% of those aged over 15 have no wage though many will have a share of communal land and can harvest the odd crop, keep chickens and possibly a goat or cattle. This means that teachers, for example, will have many dependants. Although we enjoy meals out when we visit Rundu our colleagues couldn't afford that. The wonder is that Kavangans cope so admirably and are even-tempered and in fact positively cheerful.On our way through Rundu another volunteer, Linda, who works with inclusive education told us that a boy had been refered to her. He was about 6 and both mentally and physically disabled though Linda wasn't exactly sure of the cause of his problems, possibly cerebral palsy. Anyway Namibia does provide him with a disability grant (not all countries would) of N$200 per month. This is about£15 and the whole family (himself, his mother and his 3 siblings) lives on this. There home is literally cardboard and a tarpaulin roof so Linda is now trying to get materials together to build something that will provide shelter in the rainy season. Some other volunteers who have now returned left some sleeping bags and bits that have been very useful to them already. This story is unusual. I haven't heard of anything like it before and I was relieved when a local person confirmed that most people in Rundu are not in such awful predicaments.Lots of people are still away from school and in fact judging from the look of assembly yesterday morning only about half are back. I am keen to get going with the grade 12s as we only have a month of lessons left. This is the first time this school has had a grade 12 class at all (it only opened about 5 years ago) and this lot are a credit to themselves and the school. However, with all the difficulties I spoke about probably even the most able won't get into higher education. If they do the next problem will be financing it. The government offer loans but these are very hard to get unless the student has a fantastic record (none of our will). Another problem is that apparently loans are sometimes late being paid and the student can be refused admission until it comes. Very frustrating. It will be very interesting to see the lives they build for themselves in the face of all this and I have confidence that some will do as well as they deserve. I wish it was all of them!I forgot that I last wrote at the beginning of July so I should report that the shirts did finally get released from customs and were worth all the effort! They received a welcome that was nothing short of raptuous! I felt like Obama when I took photos of them wearing them at assembly the next day. I was surrounded by an adoring, cheering crowd! Please don't send us any more parcels but a million thanks to all those who worked so hard to get these to the learners.Apologies for again not getting the photo issue sorted. I need some advise from a seasoned blogger!THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS BLOG ARE THE AUTHOR'S OWN AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THOSE OF VSO.