It was always hard for me to get my head around the name because mentally I would think of 'gong' and not 'gon' but as with most names, once familiar with it, the easier is to pronounce.
Loti was the Chairman of Ngongongare Primary School, and he often told me of some of the problems he faced there. Loti had no kids but was always interested in education - education was a passion of his.
The school population was made from a mix of local kids and those from the Seventh Day Seminary as well as 'imports' whose parents serviced some of the Lodges and other industries including the National Park - children of the Rangers.
Loti had his work cut out to keep the school running efficiently and following the curriculum! Part of the problem was, as far as I could see, that many of the teachers were the wives of lecturers at the seminar who were not as dedicated to their work as could be expected.
We carried out a full environmental programme at Ngongongare with the seminars as well as the planting programme. I wonder now at the progress of the Cupressocyparis leyandii that we supplied there. I found some of these trees in the Lushoto Arboretum and took cuttings from them - this species was a large part of my New Zealand experience.
The day we called to inspect the tree plantings and to encourage the kids, we found the young teacher who had been appointed the school's environment teacher, to be inciting the kids to be disrespectful to us. Loti had been side-tracked by the Head Teacher on school business so this young guy accompanied us around with the kids. I have no idea what was going on in his head; perhaps he did not realise that we spoke Swahili.
The school received a lot of visitors from overseas and maybe they had become used to visitor not understanding their language.
Regardless, I was not prepared to put up with the way he was acting and the way the pupils were responding, so I called off the inspection and decided not award any prizes. Loti was shocked and embarrassed about this and called an assembly where he gave the teacher and the pupils a good telling off.
The outcome, as you would expect in such situation was that the teacher was moved on.
Poor old Loti had another problem - he had arranged for some American student to visit the school and build a classroom. However the Head Teacher used the funds for the bricks to assist with his own personal problems. The news of this occurred just shortly before the students were to arrive so Loti had to scramble to find appropriate work for them.
Happily, Loti was able to sort out most of the dysfunction in the school - mainly by finding a good Head Teacher who lifted the performance of his staff. We carried out another planting programme where prizes were awarded and we were able to supply text books and some other supplies to assist the school.
Kids sitting under the Grevillea trees to listen to the environmental seminar.
Some of the teachers listen to the seminar. It was usual for the whole school to sit in on the seminars because while we targeted to older kids; the younger ones were distracted by our presence.
Kids lined up for the role play to demonstrate how trees help prevent erosion of the fertile soils.
Presenting chalk and other materials to the Head Teacher. For this we had received funds from Trade Aid, Timaru and also from Hughie and Trixie Muldrew of Hampden, Moeraki, Waianakarua and/or Oamaru. The support we received from different organizations and people was much appreciated.
Learning is never one way! The pupils of Tanzanian schools taught me through their singing of their national Anthem and Song, how proud they were of their country and freedom.
I staged this photo of Tanzanian school text books with the New Zealand flag because I was proud of the partnership.
Loti was the Chairman of Ngongongare Primary School, and he often told me of some of the problems he faced there. Loti had no kids but was always interested in education - education was a passion of his.
The school population was made from a mix of local kids and those from the Seventh Day Seminary as well as 'imports' whose parents serviced some of the Lodges and other industries including the National Park - children of the Rangers.
Loti had his work cut out to keep the school running efficiently and following the curriculum! Part of the problem was, as far as I could see, that many of the teachers were the wives of lecturers at the seminar who were not as dedicated to their work as could be expected.
We carried out a full environmental programme at Ngongongare with the seminars as well as the planting programme. I wonder now at the progress of the Cupressocyparis leyandii that we supplied there. I found some of these trees in the Lushoto Arboretum and took cuttings from them - this species was a large part of my New Zealand experience.
The day we called to inspect the tree plantings and to encourage the kids, we found the young teacher who had been appointed the school's environment teacher, to be inciting the kids to be disrespectful to us. Loti had been side-tracked by the Head Teacher on school business so this young guy accompanied us around with the kids. I have no idea what was going on in his head; perhaps he did not realise that we spoke Swahili.
The school received a lot of visitors from overseas and maybe they had become used to visitor not understanding their language.
Regardless, I was not prepared to put up with the way he was acting and the way the pupils were responding, so I called off the inspection and decided not award any prizes. Loti was shocked and embarrassed about this and called an assembly where he gave the teacher and the pupils a good telling off.
The outcome, as you would expect in such situation was that the teacher was moved on.
Poor old Loti had another problem - he had arranged for some American student to visit the school and build a classroom. However the Head Teacher used the funds for the bricks to assist with his own personal problems. The news of this occurred just shortly before the students were to arrive so Loti had to scramble to find appropriate work for them.
Happily, Loti was able to sort out most of the dysfunction in the school - mainly by finding a good Head Teacher who lifted the performance of his staff. We carried out another planting programme where prizes were awarded and we were able to supply text books and some other supplies to assist the school.
Kids sitting under the Grevillea trees to listen to the environmental seminar.
Some of the teachers listen to the seminar. It was usual for the whole school to sit in on the seminars because while we targeted to older kids; the younger ones were distracted by our presence.
Kids lined up for the role play to demonstrate how trees help prevent erosion of the fertile soils.
Presenting chalk and other materials to the Head Teacher. For this we had received funds from Trade Aid, Timaru and also from Hughie and Trixie Muldrew of Hampden, Moeraki, Waianakarua and/or Oamaru. The support we received from different organizations and people was much appreciated.
Learning is never one way! The pupils of Tanzanian schools taught me through their singing of their national Anthem and Song, how proud they were of their country and freedom.I staged this photo of Tanzanian school text books with the New Zealand flag because I was proud of the partnership.
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