What shall I
write about me? What am I to emphasis on my survival and existence? When I am
surrounded by people who supported me in a Basotho, how can I act differently?
I was simply following the tradition of a great nation of Moshoeshoe. My Indian
background gave me the dreams and values of a culture that I considered
extremely precious for me, yet I could not find an earning at home! It was one
of my teachers, Mr Thampy who helped me finding a job in Kenya in 1988. That
was the beginning of my long journey that ended in Lesotho.
I never heard of Lesotho before, but heard
of South Africa as a green pasture! As a young person from a humble background,
earning a steady income was also important. Lesotho had the answer. Thinking of
my life, I was born and brought up in a south Indian state, Kerala and spent
long 30 years at home but lived 31 years in Africa (29th year in Lesotho). One of my well-wishers, Mr Bhanu invited me
to Lesotho while I was struggling in Kenya. I started working at Mamohau High
School in 1991. Mr Koali Moima (a veteran politician, now he is the
Private Secretary to the Hon. Speaker of the Lesotho Parliament) was the
headmaster who gave me the appointment letter to join his team. I believe that
the three years that I lived in Mamohau has taught me a lot about Lesotho, her welcoming
rural life and about Basotho. That was the period when qualified teachers were
scarce in Lesotho, but revolutionary transformation were taking place in the
education sector. At the same time, the conflicts and tension between the
Ministry and the school proprietors were brewing and that caused the church
schools to be closed indefinitely in 1992 because (so I
heard), the buildings belongs to them, ministry can own the
children and the teachers. This tension
indeed changed the education sector in Lesotho. In my view, this
initiated MoET to build more government classrooms for primary and
secondary education. I could be wrong! This is the same time when debate on a
free education policy was also aired. Year 1995 brought a teacher's
strike, and from that light, teachers learned about the newly implemented
education policy for Lesotho. Free Primary Education Policy was also
implemented soon and that indeed benefitted many vulnerable Basotho children.
This the background that shaped my teaching career in Lesotho. However, what
disturbed me throughout these transformation in the education field was that,
the professional development program was slowly diminishing from this sector.
In my view, this had a long-term impact on the quality education in
Lesotho.
My teaching life in Lesotho
Coming back to
my life, it was shocking for me to live in a thatched Basotho hut. A young
Indian who just landed from a crowded town, and who lived in Kisumu (Kenya)
with modern life, a hut was unbelievable and unacceptable, but I had no choice!
However, that was an eye opening experience. Mamohau taught me the other side of human life. I soon became
part of the school community. Due to some family issues, I took a transfer
to Cenez High School in 1991 July. Mr Kanono Ntoane (late) was
the head master of Cenez Secondary, and he invited me to join them, which I
accepted. Both Mamohau and Cenez schools were under RCC, so transfer was easy.
Shifting from Mamohau High was
painful, but I received a wonderful and memorable farewell by the staff. When
reached Cenez Secondary School in Naleli, I saw a yard
with two blocks for 6 classrooms facilitating about 300 students all together,
a small admin block with 10 teachers and two cooks working in a small open
kitchen. Lunch was cooked using fire wood. I remember, we had to walk to the
nearest mountain to gather the wood that I enjoyed fully. I remember those days
of teaching the kitchen staff the Indian way cooking soup!
Cenez had no electricity, water or other resources. I
learned typing with two fingers (that I still apply on my laptop) and printing
the documents using stencils. In 1995, we took the initiative to upgrade the
school and opened the first Form D classroom in a small domestic lab. Raising
fund was fun. The school had a humble starting, and we build this to
today’s Cenez High School having 19 classroom blocks, a
multi-purpose hall, computer rooms, library, drawing room,
domestic room, science lab (just a building) etc with computerized office,
needless to say, with electricity and water.
The progress was
remarkable, however I am more concerned with the inadequate human resources and
human development. My observation showed me that Lesotho education sector
though doing a lot for teachers, is not enough. Teacher’s professionalism is
always compromised. Their dreams and visions are marginalized.
When a teacher enters in a school with hopes and dreams to bring changes in the
life of a child, the teacher thinks he is inevitable and his ability must be appreciated.
Soon, the inadequate and inefficient machinery crushes the dreams. As a result,
he becomes part of the existing system and live a mechanic life as a teacher.
Learning is highly compromised in the walls of the classrooms and the light in
the eyes of our children fade away. Lucky those who were successful.
Many schools
excelled because the school headmaster had a dream, and mostly it was a one man
show. Others followed blindly or rebelled. The outcomes are obvious, either the
schools will soon excel or will fall or afterwards, all are tired. The system
requires revisiting the policies and programs. Teachers need to be committed
to shape their professional identity, and that was my worry. Shall we conduct a capacity building activity for teachers, I asked.
I received instant support from my headmaster, Mr Moiloa and from
the MoET officials. My focus was on Mathematics and Science.
We aimed to share ideas on peer learning and innovations. Visionary officials
like Dr Lira Molapo, Mr Vincent Sekoala and Mr Teboho Moneri (MoET) supported me unconditionally, and participated in many
such activities.
The academics
from other countries whom I met during various educational conferences listened
to my plea and visited Lesotho for facilitating teachers in
a small-scale program that we organized. In many occasions they
raised fund for their own travel. My task was to raise fund for catering. Many
well-wishers, friends and NGOs helped me to meet the cost. Prof Mark Schafer
(Rhodes University), Dr Patrick Barmby (WITS University), Dr Harries Anthony
(Durham University), Dr Mpalami Mpalami (LCE), Dr Norma Boakes (Richard Stockton University) were some of those
academics who supported our programs. Since 2012, we conducted about 8
workshops on peer learning, origami, numbers, creative ideas etc.,
and that motivated teachers.
In 2016, I was
approached by Irish Oblate to conduct a study to investigate the needs of RCC
schools in Lesotho. I conducted and completed the study successfully by 2017
with the support from Dr Harries and Drs Mathot. I also received support from MoET and RCC
leaders. The findings pointed out the need for resource development to improve
the classroom learning and teaching.
40 schools
participated in the study. The findings were shared with
various stake-holders. The study helped me in the sense that Prof Peter Tymms and Prof
Christine Merrelle ((Durham University) approached me to conduct a study
on Grade 1 pupils under PIPS (Primary Indicators for Primary Schools). This was
another milestone for me in the research field. With PIPS, we developed local
materials for teachers and learners, then conducted and coordinated the
study to evaluate the Grade 1 pupils’ learning capacity. The
study was completed in 2019 and the report was published (www.ipips.org). We
proposed and prepared the ground for the next stage by expanding the study
to all districts in Lesotho. Unfortunately, the C19 Pandemic
happened, striking Lesotho! We are still waiting for this crisis to be over, so
that we execute our plan to reach the school community as planned.
My reflective thoughts
How did these
experience empower me as a person? That is the question that I
repeatedly ask myself? I believe that I was lucky by chance and I repeatedly
used to say this. It was my school teacher who took me to Kenya. I was a raw
material with crude thoughts in mind. I was inclined to Indian-ized way of
looking at situations. What mattered then were the Indian values and my Indian
background! Kenya was my classroom, and I learned restlessly. The political
chaos in Kenya (1990) forced me to explore elsewhere. Basotho opened the door
for me through Ntate Moima. He appointed me as his HoD (Maths & Science). I remember
the first question that my neighbour-teacher asked me then, when
will you be leaving for South Africa? I simply said, wait and
see. I am still in Lesotho! During those days, Lesotho was a transit
for many young fortune seekers, can’t blame anyone. Life was tough!
I have seen the
changes and transformation on the education sector, in about thirty years in
Lesotho. As a teacher I have seen my colleagues, headmaster and some students
growing into politicians and ministers or pursuing decent professions. Mamohau was an
experimental pool for me to draw the correct kind of organic materials as
nourishment for my career! Cenez High School was my dream child, and I progressed in
career with the school growing. Thanks to the Cenez community. I
was one of the first Heads of Departments officially recognized by MoET. I got the
opportunity to be the Deputy Principal and then took over the school
for a couple of years after Mr Moiloa retired as the headmaster of Cenez High School. He
appreciated and acknowledged my enthusiasm and efforts, and we worked as a
team. I received opportunity to attend MPhil (Management
in Education) at St. Augustine College in South Africa. That was my third
master’s degree. MPhil helped me a smooth entry for my PhD at Rhodes
University (Mathematics Education). Soon after, I received a great opportunity
to engage in a study to investigate the needs of catholic Schools, and then
became part of iPIPS team to conduct a study. All these are blessings from
God, through various great humans and academicians as his agents. I strongly
believe that you do your karma (god
given duty) and god will give you the opportunities to grow, and to
serve others. Materials do not matter, what mater is your dreams, vision and
values!
Regardless to
say that many officials from Ministers to Inspectors supported me, friends
offered their financial help, international organizations simply extended
their backing to my calls. They all believed in me, thus cementing my efforts
to conduct various workshops for Lesotho teachers. What matter is a will to
pursue our dream, the key mantra (magic word)
is never give up and learn from our failure! Recognition
does not come on papers but only through appreciative words originated from
hearts. I received those enormously. That is enough!
I had a humble
beginning, as an expatriate it was not easy to survive in a third world country
when many young educated children are
unemployed. For a Hindu, working in a Catholic
school and attaining positions, unusual. That was the generosity of Basotho!
I am obliged. My struggle and effort were to build my home, to support
my family and to return something back to the society who fed me and my family
for 30 years. My people gave me strength and God gave me the will to continue.
I am now retired as a teacher but continue staying in Maseru with a hope to
pursue my dreams to support education, when possible. I continue
dreaming, and that makes me alive!
No comments:
Post a Comment