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This interview was conducted by Linda Helgesson, Question: Delaide, can you please introduce yourself? Answer: My name is Delaide Daniel and I come from Masasi district, Mtwara region, where I am a COBET-facilitator in Nangose COBET-centre. Q: What is COBET? A: COBET means Complementary Basic Education in Tanzania and it is a programme for out of school children, either children who have never been enrolled or children who have dropped out of school for different reasons. There are differences between COBET and the formal primary school.  Q: What are these differences? A: For example, in COBET there are no school-fees, the learners don’t wear school uniforms and there is no corporal punishment. The COBET-learners are provided with books and other learning materials and the COBET-centre is provided with teaching aids. All this facilitates learning for the children. But in the formal primary school system, there are school fees, the learners must wear uniforms and corporal punishment is used. We believe these differences help learners in COBET learn more than children in a formal primary school. Q: What are some of the current interventions by the Ministry which you think have made differences to your professional career and classroom teaching? A: The Ministry introduced several education initiatives among which one is COBET. These projects target children who, for one reason or another, have problems related to attending school. For example, they may have difficulty paying school fees. Q: What do you think should be done in your schools to enable teachers to meet children with respect and ensure that they have a conducive learning environment? A: I think the methods of teaching should be improved. Before, while I was working in a formal primary school, there were fewer strategies for teaching than in COBET. One thing which I have learnt through COBET are methodologies to involve the learners more. In the formal primary education, the teacher is talking without involving the learners. Q: How relevant have you found your teacher training in your daily work as a teacher? A: I found that while I was in TTC (Teacher Training College), I didn’t learn so many methodologies. But during my training as a COBET-facilitator I have learnt more methodologies and I enjoy it because now I can teach the learners by involving them and they can understand easier. Q: What are your suggestions for improving teacher training? A: I suggest that the teachers of the TTC teach about methods of how to involve the learners more. Q: In school, what changes would you make to improve children's participation and learning at the classroom level? A: In the school, the way of teaching must be improved. For example in COBET, we involve the children using demonstrations and dialogues. We as teachers have to use a variety of methods to involve the learners more. I also think it is important that the school be attractive and include sports and games which make students want to come to the school and learn more. Q: Is there anything else which you would like to discuss? A: Yes, in order to improve the education, corporal punishment should be removed. The punishments make the learners leave the school and therefore punishments must be used that do not affect the learners so negatively. If we can remove this, we can get good education for the children and a good nation. Intro · Delaide Daniel · Delfina Lusuva · Rashid Chua Chua · Sedet Bulaya Would you like to read other interviews with practising teachers? |
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