Admission
- All village children are eligible for admission regardless of their ability to pay.
Twegashe Primary School
In the local Kihaya language “Twegashe” (Twĕ-ga՛-shĕ) translates as “Let’s make our lives meaningful.” The quality education children receive at Twegashe Primary School will help to make that possible, giving students the foundation they need to improve their lives and make a positive contribution to their community and their country.
Community Involvement
- A local advisory committee has been formed and we are soliciting local volunteers for a variety of roles to ensure that the community is actively involved in the operation of the school.
Classes
- Like most primary schools in Tanzania, Twegashe will run through Standard 7 (i.e. Grade 7—in Tanzania, primary grades are referred to as “standards”).
- We began with only a kindergarten class in the first year of operation (2020). We will add a new class of 30 kindergartners each year to reach a final target enrollment of 240 students after eight years of operation. This gradual growth will ensure that students entering each grade level will all have the foundation necessary to succeed.
- The kindergarten class is divided into morning and afternoon cohorts to keep class size small.
Language
- Background: As in most rural Tanzanian communities, kindergartners in Bushasha arrive at school knowing only their mother tongue, in this case, Kihaya. As a result, language learning is a critical part of the early primary years. At most primary schools the national language, Kiswahili, is taught in the early years and used as the language of instruction through Standard 7. English is not introduced until students reach the higher primary grades, and then only as one of a variety of subjects studied in the course of a school day. When students arrive at secondary school they are suddenly thrust into English-medium instruction and struggle to learn high-school-level content presented in a language they barely understand.
- Twegashe teachers are using English as the target language and language of instruction beginning in kindergarten. Kiswahili will be introduced as a target language in Standard 2 (Grade 2). Our aim is to provide children with a strong background in English that will help them to be successful in secondary school, while also ensuring competence in the national language, Kiswahili, which is vital for active participation as Tanzanian citizens.
- Additional English exposure will be provided by U.S. volunteers and also through a penpal exchange with students in U.S. sister schools.
Curriculum
- So that students will be well-prepared to take the Tanzanian national exams at the end of Standard Seven, Twegashe Primary School is following the basic curriculum provided by the Tanzanian Ministry of Education.
- Teachers use a wide range of teaching methods, with a focus on engaging students in learning and on encouraging critical and creative thinking. Students are encouraged to express their ideas and opinions as a means toward increasing their understanding and their self-confidence.
- Twegashe kindergartners are learning through a modified Montessori approach, using materials donated by one of our U.S. volunteers.
Health and Agriculture
- Twegashe Primary School conducts health screenings in partnership with the local clinic. In addition, we provide children with a nutritious breakfast and lunch daily. These measures help to ensure that poor health and empty stomachs do not interfere with children’s ability to learn.
- The school will promote public health both in the curriculum and also through occasional programs designed for the community at large.
- We have already begun planting fruit trees and we have established a vegetable garden on the school site. We plan to involve students and community members in their maintenance. These agricultural projects will not only be educational, but will also help the school move toward self-sufficiency.
- We will demonstrate positive agricultural practices by example as well as through the curriculum and community programs.
Cultural Appreciation
- Students will develop an understanding of other cultures through contact with volunteers from abroad and through cultural exchange activities with sister schools in the U.S.
- Students will participate in oral history projects, indigenous music and dance activities, and craft projects in an effort to instill pride in their local culture.
