Day 3

October, 23 2013

Dear Nigeria,

Today’s the school debate and the argument is whether Doctors are better than farmers or not. Interesting. Well, I think we need both doctors and farmers because they both play key roles in the Nation. One can’t do without the other.

I had a morning lesson today! What a relief, the students are calm. It’s not restless like the first class I attended where someone tried to clear the air by “releasing intestinal gases”! Lol… it was really bad. I’m at the back again. It’s amazing! They hear, but do not understand. Hmm… I have work to do! Quite a handful of the students have “dada” (dreadlocks). Must be a cultural thing

The average score in their last test was 3/15 i.e., 20% wow! (We had it better in my days). Like Asa said, “There is fire on the mountain and nobody seems to be on the run”

Day2

October 22, 2013

Dear Nigeria,

I spent most of today in the staffroom. My lesson was the last period today. Different people come around trying to sell all sorts of wares. I’m so lucky I’ve learned to control my shopping impulses! (Or is it because I don’t have cash at hand?J). I know teachers aren’t the richest guys, but all this advertisement makes them buy things on credit.

You should see the teachers at my school, the public school. Many of them do NOT look good… makes me feel “overdressed” sometimes, because I immediately stand out! I reviewed my lesson notes with my supervisor, and the head of department (science). These guys are learned, bright and come to work every day of the week! I wish you’d consider paying them better. They are the ones who shape the future of young Nigerians… and trust me, the masses go to the public schools, not private schools (That’s for big boys and girls). I’m still sitting at the back today with the stubborn boys. No one in the class has a textbook! I wonder why?

Now I’m getting nervous about teaching a class with rowdy students! God help me.

DIARY OF THE NIGERIAN TEACHER TRAINEE

21^st October, 2013

Dear Nigeria,

Today I started my teaching practice at a government-owned secondary school. I was in a JSS2 classroom. The furniture is old and falling apart and many of the students have to sit on boards on the floor. The blackboard is half gone; the other half that’s left is “quarter to go”! J They made up for the length of the board by painting the wall black (Those of us who went to public schools know that this is the norm). The subject was basic science and the topic was “Changes in non-living things: Characteristics of chemical and physical changes”. Since I’m just watching for the next few days, I sat at the back with some little boys (probably aged 10-13 years). Yes! The stubborn boys sit at the back… but there were a few smart boys too! I watched the teacher try to explain the terms “sublimation”, “condensation” and “Irreversible” to a class that could not understand. I don’t blame them, these things are made easier with practical science laboratories (of course, they did not have any labs)… and in their local language maybe. But they must learn English language to be able to compete in the larger society (I don’t speak the language even) Poor, poor kids L

I guess I have a lot of work to do when I eventually start to teach. I have to make it as simple and practical as I can… but we can only do so much. Whatever happened to public funds for the public? Do the “ogas-at-the-top” have any idea of the implication of a terrible basic education system on the future of this country?! I think not. Really, I think not. Poor kids, poor Nigeria.