What are the school needs?

I have mentioned a school for young kids is at the center of my efforts - really it was the kids who provided the true inspiration. Geremew Selassie and Zewditu Tessema of the Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society brought us to Berga last November and were our experts, guides, and interpreters. I stayed in touch after the trip and asked them to tell me about the school and its needs. Here is some of what Geremew Selassie wrote me:

The Maru-Chebot First Cycle (grade 1-4) Elementary School is located in Ada Berga Woreda, Chebot Kebele. The total area of the school is over 16,600 sq. meter. A total of around 400 students are currently attending in the school. There are 8 teachers. The school has only one block. It is built of
local materials (wood and mud), a roof with corrugated iron-sheets ceiling, and cement floor. The block consists of four class-rooms and an office.

The old school block is in such a dilapidated condition that the
teaching-learning process is seriously affected.

The main problems of the school can be summarized as follows:
. Walls are crumbling;
. The floors are badly damaged or worn out;
. Most of the students are sitting on the floor because of shortage of
desks;
. Doors and windows are broken down and need repair;
. Chalkboards are small and of very poor quality;
. Rooms have no ceilings;
. The compound is not fenced;
. Class-rooms are over crowded; and
. A number of students who are either from very poor families or have no parents cannot afford to buy simple educational materials.

Parents and the community at large have been trying to improve the condition, by pulling together their own resources and soliciting funds. They have not been able to make significant differences with their own meager resources. With the number of students growing every year, the existing capacity is approaching breaking point and the teaching -learning process will certainly deteriorate further. Hence, there is a dire need to build additional classrooms.

Repairing the school is not only a matter for improving the teaching-learning process. Many parents, including the Site Support Group members are sending their children to this school. The repair will have a positive impact to the conservation efforts around Berg wetland.

Since the school is only up to grade 4, then after, the students have to go to Enchinee, which is 5 km. away. This means the students have to walk 10 km. everyday, a very tough routine for 4th graders, who are quite young. So there is a need to up grade the school up to grade 8, by building additional classrooms. By the time the students complete grade 8 close to their homes, from then onwards, they will be strong enough to cover the 10 km. daily walk.