USAID

United States Agency for International Development- the group Erik and I met with this morning. After doing my research on the kids in government schools needing to buy uniforms, having 80 kids per class per session, I decided to see what USAID was doing for the education system here in Zambia.
I was very enlightened- the gentleman we met, Rick, was head of Education at USAID. He advised that 70% of the children in Lusaka go to private schools or government schools. The government schools are "free" but you must be able to pay for a uniform and some other fees- which we were already told. He said the reason they implemented this was there were too many children in school. The first day of school they would have 100 children- they only have 80 desks so they decided to initiate a "charge" to cut down on the numbers. The children who do not make it into these schools go to "community schools"- that would be the other 30% of children in Lusaka- all this information is based on Kindergarten through Year 9.
The community schools are in the compounds and they are run by people in the community. If they are lucky they will have a retired school teacher- who is happy because she is able to teach the children without all the bureaucracy. The teachers do not come with a resume- if you can read or write, you can transfer your skills to these children.
One of the NGO- non-government organisations- they spell with "s" not "z"- has started a Radio program where they give the community schools a radio and will assist the teacher by conducting a class over the radio. That allows for some autonomy in the community schools. Due to brown-outs and other outside influences- that doesn't always work so they started handing out IPods with the lessons on them. Then they are able to rewind and go over material at their own pace.
I am going to meet with the Radio Program initiator, Richard, next week so I can check out some community schools. I thought that maybe I could come along side a teacher and help her. They seem to have simple needs that they don't know how to address. Repairing desks, getting materials, they can even sign up for lunch programs. I was told that sometimes they just don't know how to go about making the appropriate connections to get these needs met.
I'm trying so hard to be diligent in my research as well as my prayer life. There are sooooo many needs here- I want to go only where God sends me. I will be useless to all, including my family, if I go anywhere without HIM!!