Blog « PAMBE Ghana

PAMBE Ghana facilitates Measles vaccination at La’angum Learning Centre.

Girl child being immunized by nurse

Measles is a dangerous childhood disease that can have devastating complications including brain damage, blindness, and deafness. It also often causes diarrhea and malnutrition. Two decades ago, measles epidemics caused the highest mortality and morbidity among young children within the shortest period. Thanks to concerted efforts on immunizations programs for under-fives by the Ghana Health Services and international agencies such as UNICEF, widespread measles outbreaks have become a thing of the past. hana health authorities say that it costs less than GHc2.00 ($1.45) to prevent the disease through vaccination and to provide a Vitamin “A” supplement. However, it is often difficult to mobilize marginalized communities to take full advantage of this vital health service to protect their children. PAMBE Ghana’s approach to primary education includes a strong component of raising awareness in rural areas about such key issues. PAMBE Ghana works to link communities to local health services for children. A good example is about the recent measles vaccination campaign in Ghana. On November 04, PAMBE Ghana organized the Bumboazio community to work with the Ghana Health service (GHS) to have all the children of the La’angum Learning Centre between the ages of 4 and 5 immunized against measles. The children also received doses of Vitamin “A” supplements to boost their immune system for better protection against other diseases. This effort not only helped to protect the children against potentially serious diseases, but created a precedent of the school serving as a means to promote an active collaboration between local communities and health services.

Programme Progress June 2010

2010 Programme Update1 (Download Word DOC file)

Whoever touches the life of a child touches the most sensitive point of a whole, which has roots in the most distant past and climbs toward the infinite future. ~ Maria Montessori

The year 2010 is already half gone and PAMBE Ghana is moving forward with its agenda for developing a model of quality education. The 2009/2010 academic year began on September 15, 2009 and will end July 29th. It is a delight to observe the changes in the children, their curiosity and interest in life around them and their smiling faces.

Lydia Alhassan is a kindergarten year student. She is one of the best examples of what PAMBE Ghana’s education program is about. Lydia from Bantambaari, was probably the saddest looking face of the 40 students who started school with us in the fall of 2008. She cried most with the least provocation and constantly sought teacher’s attention. Now she is exuberant, independent-minded and enjoys working alone or with friends. She is pleasant to be with and her peers as well as the younger ones love to play with her. Not only has Lydia and other students made remarkable advances emotionally and socially, they have also made tremendous progress academically. That is what we are striving for at these early years of school life; to make school and learning enjoyable. It is a privilege to be part of the making of these children’s futures. It is gratifying! Nutrition, Health and Sanitation Our children are growing and so are their daily nutritional requirements and appetites. We continue to serve a relatively nutritious lunch each day, which includes some dried fish, peanut or beans mixed with a cereal or root crop and a fruit when in season. We enjoy watermelon between Nov and Feb and mangoes between March and May. May –June is the sheanut (wild fruit) season. Lunch costs about $1.00 per child/day for our current 60 children. Parents contribute food grains i.e. corn, millet, beans, peanut and soyabeans, as well as community volunteer cooks while PAMBE Ghana provides all ingredients for the sauce and other food stuffs like yam, rice and gari (roasted cassava grits), and fruit when in season. Thus, PAMBE Ghana contributes 60% to the lunch. We are developing good relationships with the district health directorate and public health personnel in the district to provide regular check ups and prompt treatment of worm and other infestations. Washing hands with soap after visiting the toilet and before eating are now established practices. Disinfectants and soap for hand-washing, dish washing and general cleaning are important consumables that add up to approximately $1.00 /month/child. Although a luxury in the local context, we consider hygiene and sanitation as an integral part of quality education. Mampruli language (L1) and literacy development. PAMBE Ghana is forging ahead with Mampruli language and literacy development. Our deep appreciation goes to the Bricktown Rotary Club for providing funding for developing and publishing four beginning readers in the Mampruli language. This project has offered PAMBE Ghana staff, especially the Executive Director and Assistant opportunity to learn, adapt and create materials in Mampruli. In close collaboration with two GILLBT resource persons (Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translations) offices in Walewale and Tamale we have blended the ED’s Montessori experience, EA’s public schools teaching experience (GES) and resources persons’ Mampruli language and literacy expertise to custom-make basic readers for kindergarten and lower primary students. The first set of booklet 1 & 2 have been type-set, edited and ready for publishing. Booklets 3-6 are being edited now. We expect to finalise these too for printing by the end of the month. We will produce 100 copies each of this first set of beginning readers. Teacher Education and Professional Devt The ED and EA held a 10-day in-service training for the teachers in Langbinsi. We focused attention on Montessori and Piaget’s education theories and their application in our classroom. Much time was devoted on discussing concrete situations the teachers have encountered in the classroom. The Executive Assistant helped teachers understand how continuous assessment and cumulative records are compiled at the public school system. Teachers then spent two days in the communities and collected basic information about all the children and their families. The teachers are very keen to acquire basic computer skills. Thus, the EA introduced them to computer basics. They were thrilled to be able to create their own email addresses. Now they need the equipment (computers) so they can practice, practice and practice. We continue to provide mentoring and support in class and after classes. The ED contacted a Montessori Teacher training centre in Accra (Little Explorers) that offers courses. However, apart from the high cost of $1500 fees per person, the course is given once or twice a week over a period of time. Thus one has to be resident in Accra. We do the best we can to continue to learn and apply Montessori in and outside the classroom. Performance appraisal The ED had individual and group discussions with the PAMBE Ghana staff. Two of the teachers started last September and a 3rd in Dec to replace the late Issah. All were confirmed in their teaching positions. The end of Mary’s two-year contract was drawing near and the EA was has just celebrated his first anniversary with PAMBE Ghana. These offered an opportunity to discuss staff members’ self assessment of their performance and professional development needs. Mary has just signed another two-year contract to work with PAMBE Ghana. Infrastructure We started the school year with 20 new students, with no space to accommodate them. We tried different options, including running shift but parents opposed it and teachers were not keen either. We put the 20 pre-k and 40 kindergarten children together in the one classroom but it was too congested. The option that held until now required rearranging existing space in a way that our little ones have a place of their own. Thus, • the little office, already cramped with large containers for water and utensils, served as a store for foodstuffs for the school feeding program as well; • materials and furniture were moved to a corner of the one (kindergarten) classroom We put a few shelves in the original storeroom and turned it into a classroom. With the pavilion as backup, we have been able to offer our new little friends reasonable accommodation. PAMBE Ghana-funded classroom is at roofing level. The Milburn’s challenge grant of $3,000.00 helped mobilise another $5,000 to cover the total cost of $8,000, including security doors and windows. The big news is that the East Mamprusi District Assembly is providing a 3-classroom block and office/store as well as toilet and urinary facilities. The building has begun and is also at the roofing level. We expect most of the new infrastructure to be completed by September. Thus, we will be floating in space when the new school year begins, inch’Alla! Water is Life Another critical project underway is rain water harvesting and storage system. Two huge underground concrete tanks (5m diameter) are being constructed by a local rural water supply organisation at a total cost of $6000. We expect the concrete tanks, with all the pipes, filters and hand pumps will be installed and operational by mid-July. This will allow enough time to harvest and store sufficient water during this rainy season, which should last till October. Most of the funding for this water project has come from proceeds from the Global Market. Let us put our hands together and give a huge “Global” applause for all who have volunteered their time, talents and lots of energy to make the Global Market a successful fund raising venture. Your efforts have made it possible to undertake this very important project. The benefits of having water at the school are incalculable and go far beyond the school. Good hygiene and sanitation practices and, indeed the health and wellbeing of the children at school depend critically on availability of water. It is also important to note the positive impact this water project will have on mothers whose responsibility it has been to provide all the water every day over the past two years. Thank you! Solar Energy We are poised to be among the first beneficiaries of the Ghana Govt / World Bank solar energy project which targets rural communities and schools whose chances for getting onto the national electricity grid are slim. Given the high cost of solar energy, the govt is providing 60% subsidy for different solar energy products and a loan facility through the bank to legible communities as well. The East Mamprusi Community Bank is the implementing agency in our district, with which we have an excellent working relationship. We are therefore confident that application from La’angum and its community would be considered with favour when the project takes off. If it comes to pass, our first priority would be to acquire solar panels to provide sufficient energy to pump our rain-harvested water from the underground tank as well as lights and two computers. We could even have fans in the classroom, a big huge luxury. It is a govt project and it takes time for the bureaucracy to move. So we do not know when it will actually become operational. Friend and Fundraising We continue to seek and make new friends as we strengthen relationships with the old over the past six months. In our search here and there for a solution to the perennial water problem we made contact with Rotary Club of Tamale Ghana, WellDone / Pioneers Africa and Pumping is Life. Many volunteers and supporters have worked extremely hard to generate an encouraging balance sheet from our different fund raising initiatives. Developing a model of quality education accessible to underserved rural communities in Northern Ghana is a challenging undertaking. It requires a robust commitment and continued support in order to showcase a model worth emulating. Furthermore, as an education facility, growth and expansion is inherent in the PAMBE Ghana’s programme, and so do its needs and requirements. That is why, even as I express my deepest gratitude for your support this far, I am also asking you to pledge your continued commitment and support, and to embrace PAMBE Ghana’s programme even more firmly. Thank you very much. Ti puusiya pam Executive Director Alice Azumi Iddi-Gubbels

Alice returns to Ghana from the US

My trip was long, tiring and nerve-wrecking-starting in OKC at 6:am on Tuesday, September 15, through Memphis, Detroit and JFK for the final flight to Accra. In addition to having to run as fast as I could each time to make it for my next flight, I had the shock of my life when a very mean Delta Airline agent at boarding time insisted that my hand luggage (and others’ too) was too big and I must pay $200.00 or leave it there. She was so mean and shouted at passengers like we were, I don’t know what? And, she did not even have receipt for me; just wrote it on the back of my boarding pass when I insisted I get one! I have spent the day sorting out my vehicle papers (the insurance and roadworthiness had expired) and investigating new phone company (Vodafone) modem for our internet service. With my approval, Baba stopped the service we had before with MTN as it was not working and they could not resolve the problem. Anyway, just found out the modem costs Ghc295.00 and I do not have enough money here to purchase it. I’m staying here so tomorrow I will see if I can gather some money for the modem. It’s critical for us. I also want to visit the Rotary Club here in Tamale before I leave.

PTA Meeting

By Bukari Baba, La'angum School Alice and I had a meeting with the PTA and the community of the La’angum School in Bumboazio on Friday, September 25, 2009. This was our first meeting with the community to re-establish contacts and plan for the new academic year. Many non-PTA members were also present. AAI briefed the gathering on her visit to the USA and extended greetings from friends and supporters there to them. Our main agenda item was to plan well to meet the challenges of the new academic year. This included parents in-kind and cash contributions they would make towards their school this year, and new enrolment. After reviewing the previous year’s processes and practices, an animated discussion ensued and a good number of suggestions were made by parents. They came to a consensus and the following decisions were taken: 1. In kind contribution of food stuffs for school lunch. Parents would contribute a bowl (about 4lbs) each of corn, peanuts, beans, soya beans and millet per child. These contributions will be spread over a period of three months, during the time of harvest of the various food crops. For example, this is the harvest time for corn and peanut; it is therefore the appropriate time to make contributions corn and peanuts now. The school management committee leaders are responsible for collecting and managing these food contributions. 2. They also reached agreement that parents contribute Ghc12.00 per pupil to be settled by the end of this Lunar moon. Parents who pay after this deadline will have to pay an additional Ghc 3.00. This may seem very little, but for these farmers, it’s quite a lot given that the daily wage is Ghc 2.00. 3. We agreed to enrol 20 children for this academic. Parents, especially those who did not have the advantage of having their children enrolled last year, were eager to know how many children we were taking this academic year. The people expected that we would enrol at least 40 more. We explained the reasons why we could not enrol more. This was a tough sell but we emphasised the need for quality, not quantity. The gathering however felt the need for a community-wide meeting so everyone would have a chance hear PAMBE Ghana’s reasons for limiting this year’s intake to only 20 children, given that the general population had expected at least 40 again. That meeting was scheduled for the following Friday, October 2, 2009. Other points discussed concerned needs associated with the new enrolment of children i.e. teachers, classroom space, furniture and learning materials.

How I Feel About Being a Montessori Teacher

by Musah Issah, one of our two teachers From my candid opinion, comparative studies between the traditional system and the Montessori system shows some level of discrepancies. Due to differences in methodology and approaches, the traditional system which has proved successful over years is gradually loosing face due to some of its unpopular policies and ideas for instance, the system is ‘bookish and parroting’ where children learn by memorizing and repeating from what the teacher says, as to whether the child understands what he or she is learning is left unanswered by the system and undetermined by the teacher. I would not have been a teacher if not for the sake of the Montessori system, I love to teach, but not at the pre-school level, I know very well that teaching at that level is pretty difficult. Hence when the employment offer was made to me, my only worry was how to bring down myself to the level of these children, see from their point of view and understand things from their way of learning. Little did I knew the Montessori system will cater for my problems and that I was only to guide and scaffold to enable the child develop his or her potentials. Secondly, the most interesting aspect of my story is when I have to resign my post as a Health Extension Worker to take up teaching as my new profession, this I believe as was a call in the right direction and the fact that the spirit of Maria Montessori is in me. Once upon a time in the class, after presenting a sorting exercise to a group, I tried to find out from the children who amongst us has the biggest fingers, but a little boy did not hesitate to point a finger to me and said you of course, because you are grown and you a man, when further asked when they will also grow to have the same fingers size as mine, again the boy said ‘we will eat food to grow’. But a girl sitting beside me disagrees with him and said it’s God who makes us to grow. I listened with keen interest as the children argued to settle on one of answers. What really interested me to capture this event in mind is that I slowly but surely began to understand how these children learn, although the boy who gave the two answers above was much younger as compared to the girl who disagreed with him, I got to understand the different answers provided by the two children as a result of their level of understanding in the course of my studies under Piaggets cognitive development. In another development, a little girl was carrying out activity whiles singing to herself, I walked to her side and said to her ‘you do not sing whiles working’, you will not concentrate and besides you might disrupt other pupil’s attention, she obliged and focused on her work. But later during the day, she came to me and said I heard you singing in the class too, when I reminded her that, that was during break, she wouldn’t listen, but insisted that I sang in the class, so finally I said to her I’m sorry to which she nodded her head in response and left.It was clear from her understanding that she only wanted to tell me that I sang in the class, and as to whether it was during break or not, that was not a point to prevent her from raising her concern. Traditionally children do not ask too much questions from their elders, they either take instructions or remain silent amidst elders. The Montessori system is therefore seen in my view as a beacon of light which will enable these children to unravel their true identity, and to realize their full potentials as well as develop them to the highest ace. I and Mary are doing everything possible to give out our best, we are living by example in the class and together we promise to see to it that PambeGhana achieves its fullest mission in Ghana.In one of my usual times, I went into the community (Bumboazio) were I met some parents sitting under a shed, as soon as I took my seat, some of my students came around me, a parent tried to send them away but I stopped him, among my students was a boy carrying a ball in his hands, which a little boy cried over, one of the parent shouted at my student ‘give out the ball', but my student remained adamant, I intervened by calling my student and had a tete-a-tete discussion with him, ‘he said to me that ball is mine, I said to him that ok, but for now you are sitting by me and not playing with the ball, can you give it out for while, whiles we sit here and chat. I also added supposing you were in the in class, would you have sized materials with you, if you were not ready to use them, he smile and said no, and then he gave out the ball’. After all was set, with the little boy gone with the ball, most of the people in the shed looked at me with surprise, talking about the time and language I had to spend with my student in order to give out the ball, one parent said you are spoiling our children but then he said something that made me happy,he said may God help you with your work.Even after school, student teacher relationship is very cordial and normal as in school. There is a very strong child-teacher attachment in school, most parents are becoming fully aware of teachers role and the tasks ahead, parents complains about children interest in washing hands before and after eating, working with water after school and sometimes helps with household chores. I must say all forty children are doing well in the class, the progress of individual child is fantastic, problems I would not say there is any but rather challenges, but our weekly and monthly reviews with Madam Alice keeps we the teachers alert and abreast with new approaches to apply in the class, and she is indeed a superb mentor.Well all said and done, so far so good, teachers, students and parents are working hand in hand, and together we say yes we can.

Naming of community school raises awareness of PAMBE Ghana model

The Inauguration and official naming of the school on May 27 was a milestone in the program and strategy of PAMBE Ghana. The preparations leading to it and the inauguration itself raised the profile of PAMBE Ghana. It enhanced our legitimacy and credibility as a partner and advocate in the district for making quality primary education accessible to children in underserved communities. It also provided a platform to raise awareness of the merits of mother-tongue literacy and to solicit material support for mother tongue, bilingual education. PAMBE Ghana is becoming a recognized name among peer agencies in the district. Such recognition is important. The inauguration laid the groundwork for even stronger collaboration and support with the Ghana Education Service, District assembly, District Health Directorate, information service and other key actors in the district.

PAMBE Ghana also used the school inauguration as a platform for friend and fund raising. This was also a big success, by our standards. Our appeal raised four hundred and ten Ghana cedis ninety-five pesewas (Ghc 410.95) as well as seven hundred Ghana cedis (Ghc 700.00) of pledges that day!

In addition, the East Mamprusi community bank donated a water tank worth nine hundred Ghana cedis (Ghc 900.00) for water storage for the school, while the Nayiri (King of the Mamprusi) gave a large white ram and Ghc20.00. The District information officer and journalist posted articles on the Ghana Government official website at http://www.ghana.gov.gh/ghana/school_block_bumboazio.jsp

It was a remarkable show of support – “La’angum”!

We have high hopes that this is just the beginning.

Thank you all for your support.

Inauguration ceremony brings dignitaries to support PAMBE Ghana School

On May 27, the first PAMBE Ghana -supported school was inaugurated in Bumboazio in the East Mamprusi District. The occasion brought together strategic partners, collaborators, community leaders, traditional chiefs, and supporters of PAMBE Ghana. These included the District Chief Executive and Coordinating Director, Ghana Education Service, Health Directorate, the National Health Insurance Scheme, Information services and many heads of departments in the district as well as representatives of the Nayiri (the King of Mamprugu).

There were about 40 dignitaries and invited guests who came to the event. In addition, almost all the people of Bumboazio and Bantambaari and over twenty people from my native village, Bongbini, including the village chief and of course the children and their parents came to the event. We estimate between 200 and 250 people attended. The Northern Regional Minister was poised to come to give the keynote address but had to change his plans just the day before because it just happened that the President of Ghana, His Excellency, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, was to stop in Tamale on his way to an adjacent region in the north on the day of the inauguration. As protocol has it, the Regional minister and his whole entourage had to be mobilised to welcome and accompany the President on his visit. Between the President of the Republic of Ghana and PAMBE Ghana, well, we know who takes precedence!

We were quite late in starting the programme (Ghanaian time). The drumming and dancing went much longer and, with the warmth from all the hearts at this merry-making and the heat from the hot sun, over 600 plastic sachets (generally called pure water) and 100 half-litre bottles of mineral water did not suffice. We had to supplement with gallons of ordinary water the women brought in from the village.

Due to weeks of planning and preparation by the various organizing committees of the Advisory Committee and a lot of behind the scenes work on the day itself, the inauguration event was a huge success. The size and diversity of the crowd was one never seen in the remote village of Bumboazio before, with so many dignitaries. There were three types of traditional drumming and dancing displayed by the people , punctuated by many speeches, including those of the District Chief Executive, representatives of the Nayiri (King of Mamprugu) and Board of Directors. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the District Chief Executive (the president’s representative at the district level) and his entourage went into the classroom to observe the students at work and learn a thing or two about the PAMBE Ghana approach. The children were really into their routine of learning as the visitors came through the classroom. [The children had their lunch and Mary and Issah, our two teachers and their assistant (Ibrahim) went into the classroom with them about an hour before]

The visitors were truly impressed! Many remarked on how the children remained calm and engaged in their work despite the crowd in the classroom. While we (teachers and I) presented a few exercises to some others watched the children and asked them questions about their work.

Of women ululating for joy!

On May 27, the first PAMBE Ghana -supported school was inaugurated in Bumboazio in the East Mamprusi District. It was highly festive occasion. The women of the villages, in particular expressed themselves through ululation, a traditional cry of joy at public events. The occasion brought together strategic partners, collaborators, community leaders, traditional chiefs, and supporters of PAMBE Ghana. These included the District Chief Executive and Coordinating Director, Ghana Education Service, Health Directorate, the National Health Insurance Scheme, Information services as well as representatives of the Nayiri (the King of Mamprugu) and other personalities. There were over 40 dignitaries and invited guests who came to the event. In addition, almost all the people of Bumboazio and Bantambaari and many neighboring villages and of course the children and their parents came to the event. The estimate is that between 200 and 250 people attended. The (Northern) Regional Minister was poised to come to give the keynote address but had to change his plans just the day before because of an unexpected visit by the President of Ghana to the north The celebratory event was marked by three types of traditional drumming and dancing. With the heat generated from this merry-making as well as the hot African sun, over 600 plastic sachets and 100 half-litre bottles of water did not suffice to quench everyone’s thirst. PAMBE Ghana had to supplement with gallons of ordinary water women brought in from the village. Thanks to weeks of planning and preparation by the PAMBE Ghana local advisory committee, and much behind the scenes work on the day itself, the inauguration event was a huge success. The size and diversity of the crowd was one never seen in the remote village of Bumboazio before, with so many dignitaries. Many gave speeches, which included that of the District Chief Executive, representatives of the Nayiri (King of Mamprugu) and a representative of the PAMBE Board of Directors in the US. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the District Chief Executive (who is the President of Ghana’s representative at the district level) and his entourage went into the classroom to observe the students at work and learn a thing or two about the PAMBE Ghana approach. The children were into their routine of learning as the visitors came through the classroom. The visitors were truly impressed! Many remarked on how the children remained calm and engaged in their work despite the crowd in the classroom. While the teachers presented a few exercises, the visitors watched the children, while others asked them questions about their work. The Inauguration and official naming of the school on May 27 was a milestone in the program and strategy of PAMBE Ghana. The preparations and the inauguration itself tremendously raised the profile and legitimacy of PAMBE Ghana. It also strengthened our credibility as a partner and advocate in the district for making quality primary education accessible to children in underserved communities. Finally, it raised awareness of the merits of mother-tongue literacy, and helped make PAMBE Ghana a recognized name among peer agencies in the district.

Request pending for payment of teachers salaries

After informal discussions with the East Mamprusi District Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), we have been invited to present a formal request for taking over payment of the salaries of the 2 teachers recruited by PAMBE Ghana. This is a positive sign, but of course, pending budgeting and other issues, it is not yet certain that PAMBE Ghana's request will be approved. The good news, however, is that 8 months into the school year, the La'angum school at Bumboazio is achieving a certain level of legitimacy and recognition with our local partners. Lets keep our fingers crossed for a favorable result! This would enable PAMBE Ghana to shift more resources to its central focus which is the development of mother tongue, child centered learning materials.

Donation by East Mamprussi Community Bank

The Manager of the East Mamprussi Community Bank came to our office in Gambaga last week. In response to a request to our appeal for support, he came to announce that the East Mamprussi Community Bank will donate a huge polytank for storing water captured from the roof. The value of this tank is estimated at about $900 dollars. It will be a great asset for the school, which does not have any close access to a water source. Women from the village have to carry the water from a pump about one half mile away. The handing over of the water tank to the La'angum school in Bumboazio will integrated into the official inauguration on May 27. PAMBE Ghana is ver appreciative of the growing support of public institutions for the program.