On The Ground - Sept/Oct 2022

The Club of Leaders (CoL):

The CoL has become a safe space that is generating excitement among the students at Hebrone and the surrounding community. In early September, a CoL meeting was averaging less than 20 students. By the end of October, there were between 90-110 students at each meeting. Parents, grandparents, and other students are encouraging children to join the CoL initiative.

At the CoL, the students are working to design a logo for the club. The best five logos, determined by a jury of teachers, staff, and student representatives, will be awarded a prize. The students have established committees: planning, maintenance, ethics, and monitoring/awareness. Each committee has elected a president, vice president, secretary, and assistant secretary.

When the CoL was visited by HPP Congo teachers, they were very complimentary about the student centered focus. My Nku Inkwa stated “What I liked is that the students are at the center of their training. The students work in groups, it helps the weak to become strong.”

Teacher Professional Development (TPD):

Mr Pombo, Mr Chancard, Mr Kibulu, along with Dr Jerry had three meetings with HPP-Congo teachers. The first meeting focused on reflection and utilized a quadrant activity: What is going on in primary education currently? What is going well? What is not working well? What advice would you give the Ministry of Education? The second meeting the HPP Congo teachers traveled to see the CoL at Hebrone. The third meeting, on October 14 and 15, MR staff traveled to HPP Congo in Mbakana to propose ways to establish a collaborative framework between the two organizations with the goal of improving the quality of education at the primary school level.