Learning about Swazi rural community

I was in a community pre-school with Stephanie and for a moment I could not believe it was a school. Probably, I had never had an opportunity to see how community or government schools are really like and how they function despite the fact that I also come from a developing nation where poverty and lack of resources are major issues.

A classroom, which looked like it is under-construction, where construction materials were scattered without realizing of the harm that can be done to the kids running around. That was the classroom for approximately 48 kids over one teacher. I could see kids enthusiastically arranging their small plastic chairs to start their lesson, most of them pulling their chairs near to Stephanie and me so that they can sit closer to us.

My first day observation in community school was not something I had expected ‘coz to be very honest I was not thinking the teacher would be so good and energetic to handle 30- 40 kids single handedly. The kids pay a small amount of the money as a tuition fees. The tuition fee covers monthly salary for the teacher and rest of the money is used for the construction of classroom or to buy other required materials for school.

All of the kids not paying tuition fee is another problem here; some kids don’t pay their fees due to economical condition or their parents have many other things to invest on rather than paying school fees. And, pre-school in Swaziland is not compulsory. So, lesser the fee collected, lesser the salary for the teacher. I am yet to understand how it all works here. How do teachers get motivated to come and teach here or is it that something is better than nothing?

The statistical data shows the literacy rate in Swaziland is 87.8%, well, it definitely doesn’t mean the number of educated people here; knowing how to just understand letter is not enough if you see adults or older generation here they have yet many things to learn, starting from Early Childhood  Development and Education.