Friends of Sierra Leone / Schools for Salone
Teacher Workshop
June 28-July 2, 2010
The second FoSL/SFS Teacher Workshop was held at the Methodist Youth Centre, Bo, Sierra Leone June 28-July 2, 2010. Volunteer facilitators from the U.S. were SL/RPCVs Richard and Catherine Frazier, Judy Figi, and Peggy and Steve Garbers. They were joined by U.S. teachers Brianna Maxwell, Cherie Eulau,and Melissa Wantz and college student Megan Wantz. The program was funded by donations from Schools for Salone and Friends of Sierra Leone. U.S. facilitators paid their own expenses. Eleven Sierra Leonean teachers joined the facilitators as Teachers Teaching Teachers. For the Garbers, who documented the workshop, this was their first trip back to Sierra Leone in 42 years.
Seventy one primary and secondary teachers, mostly from the Southern Province, attended. Attendees ranged from untrained and uncertified teachers to those with university degrees and many years of experience. On Tuesday and Wednesday morning we were joined by 39 Sierra Leone Peace Corps Trainees.
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Our workshop opened Monday morning with an opening ceremony attended by area dignitaries, including keynote speaker Bo Mayor Dr. Wusu Sannoh, District Council Chairman Mathew Manah Margo, Paramount Chief Samba Bindi, U.M.C. Superintendent Rev. Francis Charlie, Head Teachers and Administrative Council Representative Mr. Alex Nallo, and Sierra Leone-South Deputy Director of Education Steven Swaray. |
To address literacy skills and syllabus topics and lack of local materials our project focused on the production of newspapers. Teachers first read and discussed local newspapers then were divided into 16 groups, each assigned to produce a newspaper. Presentations were made on parts of a newspaper and the types of writing and articles involved. On Tuesday participants and Peace Corps Trainees brainstormed to choose topics for their newspapers and on Wednesday morning they traveled into the community to conduct interviews, take photographs and collect data for their newspapers. Thursday was spent writing, editing and copying the groups' newspapers. Also on Thursday all participants were able to spend an hour at Kama's Internet Café for introductory computer lessons. By the end of Thursday all groups had completed their newspapers and taken them to be copied.
On Friday morning 32 school children of all ages were invited to come and read the newspapers the teachers had produced. Teachers were delighted with the response of the children. Friday concluded with groups sharing their newspapers with each other and the awarding of certificates at our closing ceremony. |
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Breakfast and a noon rice meal were prepared by local FAWE (Forum of African Women Educationists) women. Teachers were given materials and a per diem allowance for transportation and an evening meal.
Peace Corps Directors Gale and Joel Wallach seemed positive about developing a partnership with our FoSL efforts to provide professional development for teachers.
Watch the SFS and FoSL websites for news of a 2011 workshop. Volunteers, especially those with experience in teaching and teacher education and with experience in and knowledge of Sierra Leone are needed. Contact Richard Frazier
