Karimu International Help Foundation

Karimu Education Program

Karimu’s mission to fight poverty in rural villages in the developing world necessitates our investment in forward looking development of schools, educational support, and programs for students and teachers. Because children represent the most salient prospects for future wealth in any community, educational projects have a high priority in Karimu’s planning and community building. The education program encompasses construction of adequate classrooms for the school population; sufficient school materials; construction of bathrooms and provision of hygiene supplies for children; efforts to attract and retain good teachers via initiatives that expand teacher housing, enhanced professional development, exposure to hands-on interactive learning projects and access to technology that can benefit classroom learning; and, creating conditions that increase enrollment, improve learning, and expand and complement local education through special enrichment projects (for example art, interactive education, science projects, the pen pal project). Taken together they are intended to improve the education and lives of children and expand the prospects of future participation in higher education.

Background

Education in Tanzania starts with one or two years of optional pre-primary education or kindergarten. After kindergarten, the Tanzanian educational system operates on the 7-4-2 system: 7 years of primary school, followed by 4 years of secondary school (Ordinary Level) leading to 2 years of Advanced Level (High School). Schools are free and primary school is compulsory for every child. Unfortunately, many children do not attend school because their families often cannot afford the cost of uniforms, the financial contributions to the school, or simply to lose the extra hand to work at home or the agricultural fields.

At the end of each of these 7-4-2 phases, the student is required to take a national exam and is allowed to continue studying only after passing the exam.
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Secondary School students preparing to take their National Exam that will determine who will be allowed to continue into High School

After the 13th year of secondary school students may take the Advanced Degree exam and attend a technical school, college, or university.

Primary school curriculum includes Mathematics, English, Geography, Science, History, and Civics. Students are instructed in Swahili, the national language, and take English as a foreign language. Secondary School students are only taught in English.

Teachers in Tanzania may have one of the following three qualifications:

Certificate: Teachers who are trained to teach pre-primary and primary school students. The teacher Certificate course is a two-year training program for students who passed the national examination at the end of secondary school with a minimum qualification. The training emphasises teaching methods.

Diploma: A teacher Diploma training is required to teach in secondary schools, although most will also teach in primary schools. A Diploma in Education is a 2-year course for students who achieve a minimum qualification in the national examination at the end of high school. The training emphasises teaching methods and ethics.

Degree: A Degree program is available to the students who achieve a higher qualification in the national examination at the end of high school. Normally, Degree holders are trained to teach in secondary schools and teacher training colleges. The Training takes three to four years with a focus on teaching methods and education psychology as well as specialization in a few academic subjects such as physics or history.

The government of Tanzania is in the process of requiring that all teachers obtain at least the Diploma level with strong incentives to reach the Degree level.

Goals

The main objectives of the Karimu Education Program are:

Improve overall academic performance

Achieve parity between boys and girls

Increase primary school enrollment

Improve attendance

Reduce dropout rates, particularly among girls

Increase secondary & high school enrollment, particularly among girls

Karimu’s development goals and activities for the Education Program are tied to the following components:

Construction, renovation and expansion of sanitation at schools including student and teacher toilets, clean water, and handwashing sinks

Construction, reconstruction and expansion of classrooms and school facilities including basic electricity

Kitchens for school lunches

Educational materials and supplies (textbooks, reference books/library, lab equipment)

Enrichment and sports supplies

Teacher housing

Teacher training and enrichment projects and scholarships

Computer training

Hygiene training

Whenever possible, Karimu will offer other activities in support of students, teachers and the school. These can include teachers training , classes run by Karimu volunteers, donation of school materials, donation of clothes and shoes to children most in need, or other activities that have been identified as helpful to the support of schools and to Karimu’s relationship with the community. As these are not part of Karimu’s regular education program, Karimu cannot guarantee that such activities will be offered indefinitely.

Overview of the Program

There are four phases to the Karimu Education Program.

Creating a healthy school: The health and well-being of the communities Karimu works with is of the utmost importance and our first priority. Clean water, suitable toilets and hand washing stations all contribute to a safe and healthy educational environment for the students and teachers. Teaching the basics of health and hygiene to all students and first aid to the teachers will help the students stay well and concentrate on their studies. In addition, all Karimu school projects require the local community to provide school lunches to all children in school improving nutrition.

Building an adequate learning environment: Karimu, in partnership with the community, renovates or builds classrooms, provides new blackboards, installs basic electricity, and builds dining halls and kitchens.

Promoting academic excellence: Karimu is dedicated to empowering teachers in their pursuit of improved student learning and engagement. To this end, Karimu will provide resources identified by the teachers and school administration to support their educational goals such as construction of a school library, donation of books, sports, and arts material.

Supporting teachers’ excellence: Competent, capable and committed educators are essential to the continued improvement of classroom instruction and the overall academic success. Karimu believes that highly qualified teachers transform lives and, for this reason, provides scholarships to teachers earning their university Degrees or Diploma by covering 75% of the cost (the teachers are responsible for paying the remaining 25%). Teachers with this advanced level of education provide leadership and professionalism in their schools and their communities. Additionally, we provide training on current instructional strategies , educational best practices and computer technology. Finally, vast numbers of teachers across Africa, because of their education and professional status, are reluctant to live in the mud huts occupied by most residents of remote, rural areas. By building modest but modern housing , which includes plumbing for flush toilets and sinks, Karimu ensures the retention of these highly qualified teachers.

Phases

The four phases of the Karimu Education Program is detailed below. However, these phases don’t necessarily need to be executed in sequence. As soon as the pre-conditions of a certain phase are met, the school is entitled to request that Karimu starts that phase.

Phase 1. Creating a Healthy School

Karimu will work with the community to build adequate sanitation facilities for the school such as availability of clean water and appropriate bathroom as well as with the school to teach the basics of health and hygiene to all students and first aid to the teachers.

Pre-conditions:

Every student receives a meal at school.

Students having lunch at Haysam Primary School

Agreement by School and School Committee to their obligations below plus those included in the Karimu Strategic Plan (e.g., funding for construction projects).

Karimu:

Provide the availability of clean water at no more than 100m from school

Construct water sink with one faucet for every 50 students

Construct bathrooms for girls, boys, and staff with
stalls with flush toilets (1:20 for girls and 1:25 for boys plus urinals)
water faucet for cleaning
tiled floor
enough light and ventilation
girls’ bathroom with access to incinerators and private wash area

Hygiene painting on the walls of Ayalagaya Secondary School bathroom for boys

Provide First Aid kit and training

Provide hand washing guidelines

School:

Run a refresher of good hygiene practices to all school children and staff that includes the proper use of bathroom facilities at least once a year

Ensure proper daily cleaning of bathroom facilities

Ensure the availability of menstrual pads to all girls at school

Construction of walking paths to toilets to facilitate access during the rainy season

Haysam Primary School bathrooms

Commits to improve the passing rate on the National Exam until it reaches the passing rate required (see Appendix A “Passing Rate Requirement”)

School must nominate at least one teacher to be trained by Karimu on First Aid

Teachers commit to attend school daily unless sick or have permission.

Record student attendance each morning and again after lunch.

Promote hand washing and good hygiene practices at the bathrooms.

Encourage boys and girls to pursue their education and successfully complete secondary school.

Maintain the buildings, assets, and facilities ensuring that all repairs are completed within one month.

Educate boys and girls about bad effects of early pregnancy.

School Committee/Community:

Commit to improve the passing rate on the National Exam until it reaches the passing rate required (see Appendix A “Passing Rate Requirement”)

Commit to improve attendance rate to reach 90% or higher.

Provide funds to the school to maintain the buildings, assets, and facilities ensuring that all repairs are completed within one month.

Broken window being fixed in Dareda Kati Primary School

Phase 2. Building an Adequate Learning Environment

In partnership with the community, Karimu will renovate and/or build classrooms, provide new blackboards, provide basic electricity and build kitchens.