Learning Environment

The electric supply is as intermittent, hence the lack of posts this week. This also has the unfortunate side effect of significantly impacting school life. The 13 computers that Halcyon has for pupil use can not be used with any regularity. In addition, to the intermittent electric supply, the dust which blows all day takes a heavy toll. The IT teachers plough on though, using their initiative to teach the development of IT or using the black board to illustrate how to use Microsoft.

Teaching resources are limited to chalk and black board. However, the lessons are delivered with enough passion and enthusiasm to make up for the lack of teaching aids. Class sizes do not detract from the utter focus and concentration of pupils as they share their classroom with another 130 eager learners in some GCSE cl assess.

Learning is punctuated with breaks for food much like The National Academy with a morning break and afternoon lunch. Posha and beans is served daily to the 1200 pupils. Posha is a maize based cereal and looks much like sticky rice. No, there are no alternatives!

The temperature still hangs around 35c at midday and a strong wind blows off the Sahara making learning challenging. Remember how difficult it is to focus at the height of a British summer when the classrooms are hot. The wet season begins in late March and the children look forward to the relief this brings.

The pupils at Halcyon would love to be able to find out about life at the National Academy. However, due to the lack of Internet they can not converse through email. Maybe you could discuss creating a group who would like to resurrect the idea of a pen pall.