Village Education Project News
Whole School Development
Our programme of 'whole school development' continues. Approved by the District Education Officer for an initial, renewable, period of 7 years the programme is operating in the Moshi Rural district of Kilimanjaro with initial pilot work in primary schools in Marangu. Recently the programme has extended to primary schools in Mabogini.
Dr Anne Samson, a teacher and teacher-trainer from London, is overseeing the programme. Anne visits regularly, and in March 2011 she forged greater links with Singa Chini Teacher Traihning College, and had innovative discussions with the district inspectorate.
More details: Teacher In-Service Training and Development.
Minister of Education & Vocational Training
In April 2011 Katy Allen met the Hon. Minister for Education & Vocational Training for the second time since he took office in October 2010. Dr Kawambwa is supportive of VEPK's work, and is keen for the re-introduction of an English course for primary schools, which VEPK is strongly promoting, to be approved through existing channels.
Headteacher development
In April 2011 Evans Lushakuzi conducted a three-day training seminar for head-teachers and their deputies from 11 primary schools in Mabogini ward. They considered principles of good administration, tactics for good delegation of work and how to build an effective staff team. Follow-up visits have shown that the participants have taken the learning on-board and they are implementing many things that they discussed with Evans.
Forum for district education officers
In March 2011 two trainers from the Business School of the University of Dar es Salaam facilitated a workshop for District Education Offices and Chief Inspectors of Schools from the 7 districts of Kilimanjaro Region. This followed from previous workshops held, and, broadly covered management and communication in the light of problems encountered in their offices and operations. More such workshops were eagerly requested, and we see this as a much-needed forum for district officials to start to formulate suggestions for improvements to the primary education system with their wealth of knowledge and experience.
Training for early-years education
In March 2011 Jane Firth, our specialist in early-years education, visited for her seventh time, working with pre-primary teachers in our new area of operations in Mabogini ward. Jane spent an initial day with the head-teachers from 11 primary schools so that they would know what their pre-primary teachers were going to cover and, therefore, what they could observe and assist with after the seminar. For the ensuing four days Jane worked with the classroom teachers on how to teach the basic mathematics of numbers and number-bonds from 0 to 10 to their young pupils. Jane gives a demonstration lesson, and uses nothing but local materials which are readily available. Jane is visiting again soon for more training seminars and follow-up visits to classrooms to help with any problems.
Mount Kilimanjaro climb
In March 2011 John Douglas organised a VEPK sponsored climb of Mount Kilimanjaro. All 19 of the team reached the top of the mountain. See Sponsored climbs
New manager at Guerba Computer Centre
In January 2011 Craig Collier joined us in Kilimanjaro as the manager of our Guerba Computer Centre. Craig is a computer specialist from Bristol whose expertise and experience is invaluable for our projects.
Craig is also an enthusiastic mountain-biker and often cycles the 34 km from Mshiri village on the slopes of Kilimanjaro to Moshi town on the plains below – and back again!
New project for Mshiri Vocational Training School
In February 2011 land at Njia Panda on the main highway was acquired and a store built, and foundations begun for a motor-mechanics garage and workshop.
Read more about Mshiri Vocational Training School
Dame Judi Dench our patron
Our patron is Dame Judi Dench the famous actress. Dame Judi is very well known for her work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and many successful films including an Oscar for the film Shakespeare in Love. She was awarded an OBE in 1970 and became a Dame of the British Empire in 1988. She was appointed a Companion of Honour in 2005.