News
Preschools are doing well! We received the minutes of the teachers meeting in Malealea. It shows the numbers are increasing and the involvement of the parents is growing. The scholarships really make a difference!
Minutes of meeting held with preschool teachers
Date: 5th of May 2009
Venue: Malealea Lodge
Present – teachers from:
· Ha Phatela Preschool: (M’e Malebohang Makhakhane)
· Malealea Community Preschool: (M’e Maliako and M’e Masehlomeng Ralitsa)
· Sekhutlong Preschool: (M’e Mathabo Sekoboto)
· Ha Ramotsekhoane Preschool: (M’e Mabokang Lebitsa)
· Tseanku Preschool: (M’e Nthabiseng Tau and M’e Maletau Mosena)
Agenda:
1. Where are we (numbers of students and progress)
2. Involvement of parents of scholarship students
3. Training – arranging a date and other logistics
4. Distribution of materials
1. Where are we?
Teachers all reported that the schools are going well and have significantly improved since the Scholarship Programme has been introduced. It seems to have not only bolstered numbers, but also boosted morale of the teachers, parents and community more generally. Numbers of children have increased (see table) and teachers are similarly encouraged by their increased stipends. (The MDT agreed that if teachers are able to ensure that their numbers are 10 or above, their stipends will increase from R200 to R250 per month.)
The following table summarises the numbers currently enrolled at each school:
|
School |
Total number enrolled at school in 2009 |
Number of children enrolled under scholarship |
|
Ha Phatela |
16 |
10 on scholarship |
|
Malealea Community Preschool |
27 |
6 on scholarship |
|
Sekhutlong |
20 |
6 on scholarship |
|
Ha Ramotsekhoane |
10 |
6 on scholarship |
|
Tseanku |
23 |
6 on scholarship |
2. Involvement of parents
All schools reported that parents involvement has been good. Services offered to the schools include the cleaning and maintenance of the school grounds and play areas (at all schools) and the fetching of water on a daily basis (at Ramotsekhoane). There are various other projects planned which include the building of school toilets, the planting of plots for food gardens and the improvement of play grounds. Teachers said that there was a need for fencing for the gardens, but Gill encouraged them to establish keyhole gardens that do not require fencing. She promised all preschools free seed if they establish the gardens and encouraged them all to do so before our next meeting in August (although it was recognized that winter is a hard time to start a garden.)
3. Training dates
Gill informed the teachers that the trainers are not prepared to train in the winter months as it is just too cold. It was therefore agreed that the training will take place in late September / early October (28 Sept – 9 October 09) when the schools have a week’s holiday. This will mean that the schools need to close for a week as the training lasts 2 weeks. Gill will consult M’e Blossom who is in charge of the ECD Department in Mafeteng about this and also invite her to attend the training if she is able. (We agreed that encouraging a closer partnership and improved relationship with M’e Blossom would be in the interests of all.) Gill will contact M’e Blossom first and then confirm dates with Ntataise, the ECD training organization.
4. Distribution of materials
Gill and Teboho distributed the new carpets that were bought for each of the 5 preschools, as well as paper and other play materials. Teachers were pleased to have these. Gill also noted that there was paint remaining from the recent visits by Yorkshire and Clongowes and that trustees had agreed that this could be used to paint the preschools. Teboho Lenyora is going to help with this, and teachers should arrange with him when their schools can be painted.