Did you know that Baraa Primary School serves approximately 1700 students? It is a government school. The school serves students aged four through fifteen. They attend pre-school through Standard Seven. Let us delve into the story of this school.
Baraa Primary School is in Arusha Tanzania. It plays a vital role in the community by educating young minds. The school year has 194 school days. Each pupil should receive three to four hours of learning per day. That is eight lesson periods of 40 minutes each for Standards Three to Seven. Standards One and Two get 30 minutes each.
The Tanzanian primary school curriculum is rigid. The main method of teaching is Talk and Chalk. Most teachers are open to different methods. However the curriculum constrains them. Volunteers often work with students. These students are in standard 1 which is 5-6 years old to Standard 7 which is 13 years old.
Baraa Primary School runs book clubs. They also host storytelling and art classes. These are for the younger children. Volunteers can take the initiative in finding easy Arts and Crafts projects. Besides teaching Arts and Crafts lessons the school buildings themselves need some extra paint. If you are good with a pencil and a paintbrush you are welcome to make some informative drawings at the school buildings.
There is also a sports program at Baraa Primary School. Every Friday afternoon is committed to sports. Volunteers or teachers can organize a nice sport lesson. The children are excited for any kind of sport game. They especially love football basketball and cricket.
Another activity at Baraa Primary School is remedial reading. Volunteers read with the students English books. They try to improve their pronunciation and grammar. They also work on understanding of words and motivation in reading books.
Volunteers can stay for a minimum of one month. They can stay up to one year depending on their skills. The school expects proactive thinking and self-initiative from volunteers. Mastery of the English language is essential. Adaptability and independent working are also important.
There are grooming standards at Baraa Primary School. It is important to cover knees and shoulders at school at all times. Men should wear a t-shirt and long trousers. Jeans are not recommended. Women should wear a t-shirt and trousers. Skirts or dresses that cover the knees are also acceptable. Low-neck lines or singlets are not allowed. High splits in skirts or dresses that reveal the knees or upper leg are not permitted.
iThemba a group of friends from the construction world started supporting the school in 2006. They built and renovated the Baraa Primary School. All operating costs are personally covered by the board members. Local officials are asked to provide strict accountability for their expenses. School materials were purchased. The construction of toilets classrooms a library and a teacher’s room began. Pipelines were also laid.
A sponsorship program started in 2010. It aimed to guarantee further education for the 1474 children. This would provide a structural solution. In late 2009 iThemba began more systematic support. This support was for the pedagogical and didactic aspects. The main goal was future-oriented sustainable education. They creatively and proactively responded to opportunities. They used the abilities and talents of those involved from an empowering perspective.
Many years later thanks to many volunteers the Baraa Primary School has become an example. It is a role model for all Government schools in Tanzania. The school was second to last in the rankings in 2010. But then it finished as the first Government Primary School in the national ranking. This was based on comparable exams. A special department was started. This was for children with learning disabilities and handicapped children. The Tanzanian government supported this.
Since 2020 iThemba has increasingly shifted its focus. It went from school infrastructure and teaching support to supporting individual students. Currently this is the main focus of the project. This involves paying school fees and providing school supplies. Uniforms and warm meals are also provided. Student academic performance is closely monitored. Home visits are conducted to support the family as a whole when needed. Currently 84 primary school students are sponsored. Over the years 51 students have progressed to secondary education. 24 students are in higher education. Some are waiting to join higher education. Extra donations support students in other educational areas. They provide washable sanitary pads and a seminar on menstruation. This gives students more knowledge about it. They provide a solar light so students without electricity at home can study. They give clothing for home and food if needed. They also cover medical costs.
Baraa Primary School is a beacon of hope. It is a testament to the power of education and community support. Its transformation is truly inspiring.