Back to School

Some of you might be wondering… what is Gabby even doing in Namibia? My posts might make it seem like I’ve just been eating and looking at sunrises. So far, this is mostly true. Finally, this week, I feel like service truly began! Or I thought it might. Turns out it’s not off to the strong, quick start I was hoping for. As I’ve briefly mentioned, there’s big national curriculum changes throughout the country this year regarding the Grade 10s, which are directly affecting my school. Last year, my school offered Grades 8-12; now we will be offering grades 10-12. Additionally, combined schools which previously catered to grades 0-10, will contract to grades 0-9. So, there are lots of Grade 10s that will have to move schools, and there are not very many in the region to choose from (compared to the number of primary and combined schools, which most villages have). Not only are the Grade 9s from my school returning for Grade 10, but now there is this large spike in enrollment from other places in the area. The problem (similar in the US) is capacity. With 15 classrooms and 11 being used by current Grade 11s and 12s, there are only 4 available spaces to accommodate the Grade 10s. The numbers are being capped to give 35 learners per class, but listening to my colleagues’ disgruntlements, last year there were classrooms with 70 learners or more when the same 35-learner cap was set. Given that there are maybe 25 desks on average per classroom (but careful when you sit down–it may be set up like a deck of cards and you need learner insight and finesse so you don’t fall like I did while proctoring), one can see how this might be a problem. But then there’s the other problem: how do you turn away someone from an education? There are other options for learners who don’t find a spot; for example, there are many learners who are “repeaters”, i.e. they failed a grade (or maybe a few). They are trying to continue secondary school, and are now in their 20s (as far as I can tell there isn’t really an age cap). For these learners, in most towns in Namibia there is a NamCOL, which seems kind of similar to a GED program. While 0-12 education is free in Namiba, NamCOL does cost money. But, for those repeaters this could be an option. Regardless, there’s no easy solution. Also, many learners are traveling an hour or more from their villages to get to my school, the nearest secondary school for them. While there is fortunately a hostel, the capacity is just over 100 learners. Total enrollment at my school is predicted to be close to 600… Other housing accommodations are not easy to come by (and are very expensive), and this adds to the complexity of the problem.

So the first few days of school were actually spent enrolling learners scrambling to get one of these hostel spots. I was volunteered to be on the admissions committee, which luckily for me just meant recording names and chosen field of study. That role still turned out to be hectic, especially in the confusion. Many learners/parents were confused when I couldn’t help them more or register them directly (answer: I had no idea what I was doing and very little awareness of the process and formalities–which are very important in Namibia).

Finally though, on Thursday, I received my class allocations. To my surprise, I am now teaching just math (instead of physics and/or chemistry). There are 4 sections of Grade 11, so I will be teaching all of those. I’ll only have to lesson plan class content once, so I’ll be able to work with learners individually more often and develop a secondary project. Also, instead of working with only learners who chose natural science as their field of study (or elective focus), I get to interact with everyone in the grade, since math is required across the board. I’m really excited about it! I love math. Instead of like in the states, where typically you’ll take algebra or trig or calculus as a stand-alone course, here the math is a mix of multiple subjects (typical under the Cambridge system of education). We’ll cover numbers and operations, measurement/conversion, mensuration (an odd sounding word that has to do with perimeters/areas/volumes), geometry, algebra, graphs and functions, trig, vectors, and statistics. It’s a two-year course, but TBD if I stay with the same classes next year (or even this year–I hear scheduling changes are not uncommon), as then they’ll have their national exams to take. So, like with everything else, it’ll depend. For now, I’m glad I didn’t spend as much time as I wanted over the break doing my physics lesson plans (one perk of procrastination).

I started my classes by giving out a questionnaire to get a feel for my learners, and then I took pictures of them holding their name. My goal is to know their names by the end of next week! I also had my first official lesson on Friday, which was an intro/review on certain math vocab (rational/irrational numbers, real/imaginary, integers, etc). I’m looking forward to planning next week’s lessons this weekend, and then staying on top of my lesson plans from here on out. I can already tell there’s a lot of kinks to work through and things to learn (how do I want notes formatted, how should they show me work, how often should I assign quizzes…). Lots and lots to learn. Things are finally happening though and, five months later, I’m finally starting to do that thing I came here to do. I’m really excited for the work and the marking and the explaining and re-explaining and re-explaining. One week in term 1, already down. Wow. And, biggest/best news of the new year: my family booked their plane tickets to visit me! So in a few short months I’ll get to show them around my new home and explore the rest of Namibia. Can’t. Wait.

Love you all and talk to you soon!

Picsss:

Selfie break while teaching my host sister Janet how to make cinnamon rolls.

Last day at the river, 2018.

Unique looking houses in Katima… I heard they used to be housing for HIV/AIDs patients. They seem abandoned now!

Not the prettiest croissants… but oh my they hit the spot! Buttery flaky goodness.

Inadvertently started a running club… (on my 8-mile run. Yes, I, Gabrielle Pajak, who thought I could never run more than 2 miles, ran for 8. I’m just as shocked as you are.)

I’m gaining the goats’ trust as they hang around the neighbor’s house daily.

Saturday mornings are my favorite.

Pita pocket party

Some of my learners drawing their names on some “white boards” I made. Excited to get to know them!

My roomie Auxilia is back and she came with lots and lots of the best mangos I’ve ever eaten (we both eat like 4 a day)

Treated myself after the end of week 1 with eggplant parmesan. Yum.