The One With The Stress Of Tests

These last two days have been very busy here in Iringa! Three of last year’s volunteers have extended their time here in Tanzania and are staying here with us at the centre for the week.  They have been running all kinds of classes and discussions for us on everything from how to teach in a class with 100 students and no textbooks to what to do when we encounter corporal punishment in our schools to coping mechanisms to help with homesickness and much much more! It has definitely been information overload and there is a lot about this upcoming year that is intimidating to me right now.  But I am getting really excited to get into Kafule and begin understanding the social dynamics that run throughout the community. 

We have been talking a lot about the Tanzanian national exams.  Students here go to 7 years of primary school and then have to take a national exam.  If they pass this exam they can continue on to the first 2 years of secondary school after which they take another exam.  They can continue their last two years of secondary school if they pass that exam and then take an exit exam for secondary school. If that exam is passed then they can finish the last two years of school and then possibly go on to university.  If they do not pass any of these exams they are kicked out of the public school system and can either pay for private school (which they most likely cannot afford) or begin working (but they do not have the education for a career more than basic village work).  These tests are taken VERY seriously (they have guards with guns monitoring each test as it is proctored)!  This system has resulted in a lot of challenges to teaching.  First, the students want to learn for the sake of the test, not understanding (and that is all the teachers usually teach for).  The tests are also poorly written, full of spelling and grammar mistakes. The questions test more for facts and regurgitation of knowledge than any real understanding or critical thinking.  There is such a sense of anxiety over these tests; students will even carry around tattered copies of exams from 20 years ago and study in between classes.  Last year’s volunteers who are here with us have said that their students are always asking for more tests so that they can feel more prepared for these national ones. 

Hearing about all of these challenges over the last few days have been really hard.  I am really anxious to get into my school and see this dynamic firsthand.  Until then it is hard to really understand what this is going to mean for me in the classroom but I know that it is going to make for some unique challenges.  But I guess we will just have to wait on those, no sense in worrying today right? 

For now I am just trying to make it through all of my Swahili homework.  We have started taking classes every morning and we are definitely moving through this material quickly! But it has been good. I am starting to pick up on certain words when I listen to conversations and I am beginning to be able to pick out the topic; slowly but surely, it is progress.  Tomorrow is another full day of classes and discussions but I am getting to go to bed early tonight so hopefully I will be ready for another long day!