Chasing the Sun

Just a couple of words about growing up here.  Most children go to school from the time they are 6 until they are 12 or 13.  Primary school is free.  However, secondary school costs and parents can’t afford it.  (So the girls usually get married and start having their own family right away.  I met one woman who was 34 and already a grandmother of two.  I digress.) Here is the heart-breaker to educate a child in secondary school cost the equivalent of  £50 or $75 a year.  Problem number two, there isn’t enough room in the schools.  In the primary school we visited with 1,182 students and 19 teachers, 4 students from the previous year had gone on to secondary school.

I know this all sounds grim.  However, being here (Malawi is known as the “heart of Africa”), it doesn’t feel grim.  People seem content, even joyful.  They are incredibly polite, appreciative and fun.  Despite the limitations of the education system the literacy rate is 75%.

Yesterday we visited a Habitat kindergarten for orphans and vulnerable children.  The kids sang and played games while we toured their school room.

Classroom in the kindergarten for 70+ students.

After the pre-school/kindergarten we visited a public primary school.  We were greeted like royalty.  The head teacher spoke to us about their school, the children sang.

Next time, village life and the ‘build’!