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| Photo credits: In 2 East Afric |
Tanzania education is so bad right now. Should parents be allowed to home school their kids if they want to? I think the answer is yes and here is why.
1.Ability
There are many parents who are smart or well educated enough that could teach their kids at home better than what kids get out of the public schools right now.
2.Many educated moms
Right now many women get education and stays longer in school than ever before, that is to say there are so many educated stay at home moms who could well teach their kids from (1st to 7th grade) without any problem.
3.Many students are under challenge
Growing up in my elementary years there was a time I hated school so much. Apart from the bullies I was very bored at school so badly because I was very under challenged. And I went to school at a time public schools were much better but still to some kids the curriculum used was not challenging enough.
4.High dropout rate
Many kids don't finish school. There is a very high dropout rate now. The number is higher than ever been before. Parents always complain and blames teachers for not doing their jobs but do we really know the reason behind?. I do remember when I was in 4th grade I was helping my brothers (6th and 7th grade) to do their home works. I was lucky to have a very strictly dad that kept me on toes all the times and he was involved in our education so much. Honesty, if it wasn't for that I think I would have been one of those dropout kids too.
5.Crowded classrooms
Right now classrooms are very overcrowded. It is hard to imagine what kids are getting out of four walls education right now. So many students, very few teachers and people are blaming teachers for not doing their jobs?
6.Cramped
Kids seat on the floor and those few who lucky enough to seat on desks are just like those who sit on the floor because they are cramped. For kids to understand anything and well the learning environment is very important.
7.Staving
Kids have longer days but they don't eat anything. Government does not provided breakfast, lunch or even a snack to day schools students. Vendors bring food to sell at school play grounds but not all the kids have money to buy those foods.
8.No transportation
All major cities public transportation systems in Tanzania are not equip well enough to handle all these many children. Students don't pay full price bus fare so they are often the last one to board the buses. Also because those buses are excused to carry certain number of students only many are left behind. So students take longer time to commute to and fro to school everyday.
9.Distance from school
Many kids live 4 to 9 miles always from schools where in many areas do not have any type of transportation or they do but parents cannot afford the bus fare for their children so those kids have to walk that much everyday.
10.Learn at own pace
Evert child grows at his or her own pace. Home schooling option will also help students to study at their own pace. For those fast learners won't be dragged behind with those who are not, for curiosity will be able to do other extra activities more. Many smart kids could even take secondary school classes at the same time are doing their elementary level studies. This will help to reduce the number of years many students spend in secondary education too.
With the technology we have now and they say “there are so many mobile phones in Tanzania than light bulbs” guarantee it will be easy to follow up with any local or international curriculum as long as they allow students to be evaluated and get credited at a specific time or age.
The home schooling option will not only benefit many students but also the government will able to use the little money allocated to the education system to do much more for those who will still use public schools. With strict settings, follow ups and evaluation requirements I think it will increase the quality of education for about 50% right away.
The benefits are endless. It’s about time for Tanzania government to add other education options. If the ship is sinking there is nothing wrong if they try any option available out there.
The low economy in the USA made many local governments in many states to quickly act up and introduced online free public school option. Why Tanzania is not flexible? How long will it take for them to act? I wish many things were decided by each town, district or region like in America. Things would have been done much faster than the way it is right now. I know many regions are ready just the policy changers may affect the speed of replacement for their political agenda. It is time to be the voice of change for the Kids of Tanzania
What do you think?
YES, TUNAWEZA
