Tales from overcrowded classrooms of Viwege

It was around 12 noon last Tuesday when I paid a visit to Viwege Primary School in Pugu, Kinyamwezi Ilala Municipality Dar es Salaam. I was there to observe an education project implemented by the Organisation for Community Development (OCODE).

The first thing I noticed was that not all the pupils were in class. There was a large group of pupils outside waiting for their turn to enter the class. While waiting, the pupils kept themselves busy with a game of ‘mdako’ while others chatted and giggled in the hot sun. This is a normal school day for Viwege pupils.

According to empowerweb.org, apart from expanding the mind through knowledge, education prepares children to solve problems, teach others, function at a higher level and implement transformational ideas. Without education, one’s chances of securing a good job and ascending to a higher economic and social status are often limited.

Viwege Primary School learning environment is not one in which pupils can attain the above mentioned goals for various reasons.

First; the school’s classrooms are extremely congested holding about 150 to 260 pupils. I was struck by the image of a teacher trapped in front of an over-used blackboard. She had no room to move around the class and engage her pupils as children were crowded up to her feet.

Ayub Ngonde, head teacher at Viwege Primary School told me things were not always this way. He said the problem of overcrowding began back in 2010 after Kipawa residents were forcefully relocated to Pugu Kinyamwezi after their homes were demolished to pave the way for the expansion of Julius Nyerere International Airport.

“The situation is quite dire. For example, in order for a teacher to write on the blackboard they have to ask pupils at the front row to go out so that they can have some space to write,” said the head teacher.

Daily struggles

Amina who failed to disclose her second name, is the second head teacher at the school and says she is unable to enforce proper classroom etiquette due to such problems.

“The children have to greet teachers while seated. We do that because the space is limited and it takes almost ten minutes for the class to get organised again if they were to stand up and greet. Children also leave school in such a dirty state as they spend most of the day seated on a dusty floor or waiting on the grounds outside,” the second head said, adding: “It’s difficult for these pupils to really improve academically, even if we urge them to read and do some exercises while they wait outside for their turn in class, they usually can’t concentrate.”

Ashura Abdallah, a Standard Five pupil, told me that she is not happy at the school. She hates sitting on the crowded dirty floor.

“I wish we could sit on desks like normal students, I wish they could do something so that we could have enough buildings and everyone would be in class,” noted the aspiring nurse. Kanyongo Kinoni, another Standard Five pupil, who dreams becoming a soldier, said that what he hates is the examination period since there is limited space to write and focus. “It is very difficult for us to focus during examinations since there isn’t enough space to write, there’ isn’t enough learning material for everyone. I am tired of the situation, if it’s possible, I would also want the school grounds to look neat and have a wall around the school to protect us from accidents caused by motorcycles and cars.”

A helping hand

However, the school heads are not on their own and have received some help from OCODE.

The organisation has built two additional classrooms, which makes for a total of 11 classrooms at Viwege Primary school. This has not solved the classroom shortage, but it is a step in the right direction.

“It’s obvious that every parent wants their child to pass and succeed but without a good foundation it’s difficult for a child to perform well academically,” said Joseph Jackson who is the coordinator of OCODE. “Most pupils come to school hungry because they haven’t eaten breakfast, as if that is not enough, they have to struggle through the whole day at school because they don’t have enough space in the classrooms. How can we expect these children to concentrate?” questioned Jackson adding: “Sometimes we sit together with parents and discuss ways in which we can work together to find ways to feed the children at school. You will be surprised to learn that some parents don’t want to be bothered, some even completely disagree with such initiatives. The reason behind some of this behaviour is that some parents can’t afford to contribute for school meals.”

What’s being done

Jackson remains optimistic and told me that at the moment other Kibondemaji school pupils get porridge every morning. “Sometimes what we do is ask pupils who can afford to contribute to their fellow pupils to do so. We teach them to support others with the little they have,” said Jackson. OCODE also urges parents to participate in their children’s education by helping them with homework and buying them text books.

OCODE works together with international NGOs like Stromme Foundations, Norwegian International, Weworld onlus, Firelight Foundation, towards improving primary education in the country. The organisation uses a variety of strategies such as training; community participation, community- based schools with effective community participation and developing human resources for the education sector.

Jackson explained how his organisation works to me. “After a few discussions with the municipality and school inspectors, we choose which schools to lend a hand to. We give them text books as there are some parents who cannot even afford to buy their children text books. We renovate some buildings and build some classrooms when needed, we also offer training for teachers, we try to involve parents in their children’s education as much as possible and also teach pupils about their rights.”

What has been done so far

From May 2012 to April 2015, OCODE have supported four primary schools which are: Buza, Bwawani, Kibondemaji and Mtoni Kijichi by donating up to 1,534 textbooks, 81 dictionaries, provided 327 teaching aids, 223 desks, 110 tables, 61 cupboards, remodelled 12 classrooms, constructed 12 new classrooms, 10 toilets and two libraries.

Apart from that they have offered teaching methodology training as well as mathematics and English training classes for over 200 teachers. Hygiene and sanitation training for pupils as well as reproductive health and HIV/ Aids awareness are also a top priority.

Some Sh655.9million has been spent to implement the project. Out of this amount, Sh594million came from the project and Sh61.8million was contributed by Temeke residents and the district council.

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