The Impact of the CHETI Primary School Expansion
The Struggle of the Original Classrooms
At Made With Hope we discovered that in the rural communities of Arusha in Tanzania, there has been incredible progress towards transforming the education for the poorest and most vulnerable children. But, we have witnessed that many parents are so passionate about their children achieving high-quality education the local schools have become over welcomed. There are very few schools within the area and they have become overcrowded with students. In CHETI Primary School, we discovered that in 2018 that it was oversubscribed. Because of this, the classrooms have reached their capacity of 45 students per classroom (most are 65-100 students!). Hardworking and passionate teachers are unable to turn away children as the teachers believe that each child is deserving of a chance to escape poverty. Sadly, this led to the children's education is at risk as:
Limited desk space
Overcrowded desk
Teachers struggle to pay attention to all students
The struggle of staff management
Student health is at risk.
Through the determination of CHETI Teachers, staff and students, CHETI has become very successful in achieving a place in the top 5% of Tanzania national exam!. CHETI Schools have become very well-known in the local community of Arusha for offering affordable and accessible education to the poorest and vulnerable children. With low school’s fees and a sponsorship program that enabled and empowered children to achieve their dreams in education.
The Power of a Partnership
Working together with Zuma and CHETI NGO, they had started to develop a construction of 10 new classrooms that will give 2 new classrooms for each year group enabling all children to have the area they need. Each Classroom will be able to manage the recommended capacity of 45 students per classroom, which altogether can teach up to 450 students!. Each student will be taught high-quality education without the risk of overcrowding. We are very enthusiastic about the positive impact of the new classroom as it will go beyond the students since teachers will benefit greatly as 3 new teachers will be hired. Which will help balance the workload and the management of the school while further improving the quality of the teaching.
Who We Are Impacting
We have already successfully constructed 10 new classrooms for CHETI Primary School from the awarded grants which we are extremely appreciated for from the British and Foreign School Society, The Buchanean Programme, One Kind Act and Kitchen Table Charities Trust, which have supported us to improve the lives of the children, teachers and the community.
Reducing of Overcrowding
One of our main goals was to reduce the overcrowding in each classroom. We are very happy to announce we have achieved this. As our feedback from the students has shown an overwhelming joyful response! :).
CHETI Primary School's new classrooms have empowered and encouraged each student. As every desk is not overcrowded, giving the children a lot of space to write and learn. Each classroom has its recommended capacity of students, which gives the children an open space to clearly see the teacher and blackboard. The students are studying in a safe environment where they are not at risk of the overcrowding and pollution which was previously the problem.
Increased Educational Profile of Students in the Community
From the hard work of students, teachers and CHETI NGO they increased their educational profile within the local community as they have placed in the top 5% of Tanzania national exams. What we have further witnessed in the positive effect that high quality can achieve as students can lift themselves and their families out of poverty. But, it can help towards improving the Tanzania economy itself as the Tanzania government has worked hard to empower and encourage young people into education, employment. With CHETI helping more students access high-quality education it will inspire other children in the community. With more classrooms on their way to being constructed, we are excited to have a positive, encouraging that will have a greater impact.
Decreasing the Stress Levels of Teachers and Improving Satisfaction Among Teachers
We are pleased to have witnessed that the classroom sizes have been reduced which have had not only a positive impact on students, it has greatly improved the stress levels of teachers. By teaching and managing a classroom that's over capacity, it has been difficult for the teachers, as they feel that they cannot support each child.
With more classrooms being constructed, we have had such positive feedback from the teachers as it has helped reduce their stress. Teachers feel that they can effectively teach in small classes as it gives them the opportunity to develop and improve their teacher practices. By teaching in a new classroom, they have happily reported that they feel more satisfied as they are in a comfortable and safe environment where their focus and attention can be directed on each student.
“We have been supporting CHETI schools since 2013 and this was because I’ve seen nothing but passion and determination to educate some of the poorest children in surrounding villages. The exam results that CHETI schools achieve is one of the highest in their region.
CHETI is our partner organisation on the ground that support their communities. CHETI have a lot of pride and do not like to rely on international donors too much. But when I visited our projects in 2018, I saw CHETI and their community had built the foundations of 3 new classrooms to expand the 8-classroom-school to help educate more children. It would take them 5 years to build a few layers of bricks every so often and finish the classrooms. I asked the director of CHETI, Zuma, why he didn’t ask us for support for these classrooms. He said “You UK people have already done so much for our communities. We do not like to ask for more help.”.
After a lot of convincing, I reminded Zuma and the CHETI staff that we are a team and Made With Hope would be honoured to utilise the funding opportunities we had back home to complete these 3 classrooms in 1 year, instead of 5 years. They are experts in delivering amazing education and they should be focusing on doing that for the children in their community. We made a plan to expand CHETI Primary School by building 10 more classrooms and I’m so delighted we made this happen in just 2 years.
The impact that this is going to have on children in surrounding villages is so exciting and I am so thankful to every person that has supported this project. You’ve literally helped us provide education to another 450 children!
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By Charlotte Burns
Project and Grant Associate