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DNS DOWA

Project Report

January—December 2013

Submitted to U-landshjelp fra Folk til Folk, Norge

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DNS Dowa is located in the central region of Malawi and is the third established by DAPP

Malawi. Its idea is to train primary school teachers who will be dedicated to teach in the rural

areas. Through the HPP Teacher Training Concept of the two-and-a-half year and newly

introduced three year program, the students undergo both theoretical and practical training in

how to take up both the role of a teacher and a community developer in the villages where they

are most needed.

Team 2011

A total of 115 students from Team 2011 graduated on 27th November and are now waiting for

deployment into government primary schools by the Ministry of Education. About 20,000

school going children have been receiving lessons from the students whilst in the teaching

practice schools. The students came up with different initiatives at the schools where they were

teaching and some in the communities around their teaching practice schools. Some of the

activities which were initiated and implemented by students are environmental conservation

actions through tree planting, adult literacy and afternoon lessons for primary school pupils.

The child friendly school activities including the introduction of girls’ clubs to motivate girls to

have interest in education and those who left school to go back to school were also established.

The graduation ceremony for Team 2011 was presided over by the Deputy Minister for

Education, Science and Technology Honourable Agnes Chatipwa Mandevu. The Minister

applauded DAPP for working hand in hand with the government to alleviate the challenges

paralyzing the education sector. She encouraged the graduating teachers especially girls to lead

exemplary lives wherever they will be posted to saying they will be torchbearers in the rural

communities for motivating the girl child to want to succeed in life. In conclusion, she urged

the graduating male teachers and the continuing student teachers to play their role in supporting

girls’ education and to a take a bold stand in fighting the negative practices by some parents

who force their girls into early marriage. Team 2012

The team of 108 students started their 11 months school based teaching practice in September

2013 after successful completion of their first year. The students are continuing the various

school and community activities which their colleagues established including environmental

conservation through tree planting, remedial lessons and adult literacy. In addition to the

existing activities, student teachers have also initiated income generating projects ranging from

sewing; knitting; crocheting; and baking. Community members accessed start up capital from

the village savings and loan clubs which they are members of. Most female students have

intensified the school garden projects in their schools with an aim of making the gardens centers

were community members can learn various gardening skills as well as adopting conservation

agriculture. The students organized several parent-teacher days, where teachers and parents met

and discussed issues affecting children’s education and made action plans to ensure that

children stay in school and have support from teachers and the parents. Team 2013 in the 2½ year program

Team 2013 has completed three periods of their training where they have been going through

the academic studies and parallel studies about the periods as follows, “The World in which we

Live”; “Malawi Our Country” which has enabled the students to create the connection between

the theoretical aspect of the two periods and linking them with present day life in the rural

communities. The students have just completed the Consolidation and Charter period which has

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

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equipped them with skills that will contribute to their effectiveness in the various teaching

pedagogies. The team of 73 students has been actively involved in the planning and facilitation

of community lessons held every Thursday, conducting remedial classes for junior and senior

primary school classes for children and; adult literacy lessons, knitting, tailoring, and

conservation agriculture for the older community members

Team 2013 in the 3 year program

The team has a total of 91 students who started their training in September 2013, the students

have been preparing for their four months travel across the SADC region. The students have

studied economic development, traditions, education and political systems about the countries

which they will visit in 2014. During the investigation week, students visited Kasungu and

Nkhotakota districts where they had firsthand experience developing questionnaires for the

investigations they intended to carry out in the two districts. Throughout the period, the students

have been exposed to various challenges including a bus breakdown as they travelled to

Kasungu and inadequate sanitation facilities in Nkhotakota, these situations challenged the

students to become good problem solvers and critical thinkers who are able to brainstorm

possible solutions quickly. The investigation week also enabled the students to develop a

number of skills in planning, decision making and in organizing themselves inorder to get

things done. The breakdown the students experienced gave them a learning opportunity for

basic mechanical skills including the use of hand tools for specific parts and tyre fixing.

Students’ Charity Work

The students run Umodzi project which is aimed at assisting under-privileged primary and

secondary school pupils with their basic school needs. Four fundraising events were organized

by the students including a mock wedding which was attended by the Member of Parliament for

Dowa North East, Honourable Leckford Thotho. The MP encouraged the students to continue

their good work and urged community members to emulate the example set by the students to

assist needy children. Proceeds from the fundraising events were used to buy stationery, school

uniforms, hygiene and sanitary items and; pay school fees for the pupils in secondary school.

Primary school based clubs

Students in teaching practice schools continued supporting the English, Mathematics and

Science clubs established in their schools. The pupils participated in inter-school competitions

organized by the project during the year and the schools receiving the highest scores went home

with various prizes such notebooks, pens and balls for football and netball. The club attendance

increased during the start of the 2013/14 school session and has aroused pupils’ interest to learn

and understand various topics in Science and Mathematics so they would be the ones

representing their respective school at the competitions.

The girls’ clubs were invited to attend the national commemoration activities for the

International Day of the Girl Child held at Lilongwe Girls’ Secondary School on 11th October

2013. Chibwata Primary School girls club represented the other clubs at the event whose theme

was “Innovation for girls’ education: Sustainable solutions to girls’ education”. The project also

tracked the first members of the girls’ clubs from 2009 and found that approximately 65% of

them were progressing well with their secondary school education and fulfilling the objectives

of the clubs which also includes keeping girls in school.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

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School garden project

The project continued to receive support from the DAPP Dowa Women Farmers’ Clubs project

in the implementation of the school garden project where eleven primary schools hosting

teaching practice student teachers have well established school gardens. Since the beginning of

the new school session, five more schools have established gardens which are being supervised

by the student teachers who are also using the gardens for teaching communities how to grow

various local vegetables and improved varieties. Community members were invited for open

days organized by the student teachers and pupils that aimed at showcasing what they pupils

were learning and the relevance of being equipped with the practical agricultural skills.

In schools where the school gardens had been operational for longer periods, the pupils had

formed committees which then planned the watering, weeding and pesticide application

routines for the vegetables. Primary schools learners have demonstrated good team work

amongst themselves and they are responsible for selling the vegetables and being accountable

for the money an element that will nurture them into responsible citizens and future leaders.

Some schools have purchased balls for netball and football using proceeds from the vegetable

sales.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

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Improved healthcare for children in their homes

The introduction of health and nutrition clubs by the students in teaching practice has increased

community members’ awareness of health and nutrition related issues. Community members

have been taught about the importance of understanding the six food groups in ensuring that

children get balanced meals to avoid diseases caused by malnutrition. During some of the

lessons, cooking demonstrations were made to equip parents with improved cooking skills and

improve their diets using locally found ingredients.

Income generating activities

Community members are encouraged to form groups after completing their year long training in

various community lessons. To date, the lives of former participants have improved because of

the group income generating activities they are engaged in. Amongst the common activities the

community members are involved in include tailoring shops, knitting and baking of zitumbuwa,

mandasi, common snacks in most communities which are sold at schools and markets.

Improved access to quality education

The presence of DNS Dowa graduated teachers and student teachers ensures that children

receive quality lessons enriched with different games, songs and learning materials either

modeled or improvised. This ultimately increases the number of teachers in the schools and

contributes to reduced drop out rates and increased regular school attendance by pupils.

Promotion of girls’ education

There has been a significant increase in the number of girls attending school regularly due to

the establishment of the girls’ clubs which also provide girls with sanitary pads which many

rural primary school girls lack.

Strengthened partnership with stakeholders

DNS Dowa has continued working in close collaboration with education authorities in the

district including the Education Division Manager for Central East Division, District Education

Manager, Primary School Education Advisors, Head Teachers and Mentors. The college has

held a knowledge transfer and exchange session including sharing of best practices with

Kasungu Teachers’ Training College and Emmanuel Teachers’ Training Colleges.

EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT

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PROJECT IN NUMBERS

DNS DOWA PROJECT Planned

2013

Achieved

2013 Variance

Objective 1: Teams studying in the college

Team 2011 students graduated 114 115 1

Team 2012 students in second year 116 106 -10

Team 2013 (March) students in first year 120 73 -47

Team 2013 (September) students in 1st period 120 91 -29

Girls in teacher training 140 149 9

Number of subjects studied 16 16 0

Number of children benefiting from lessons given by students 10,800 21,000 10,200

Objective 2: Team 2012 in the second year of training with school practice

Students in teaching practice 116 108 -8

Primary school hosting the practice students 19 17 -2

Number of community projects run by students 19 14 -5

Number of supervision visits to each student 6 7 1

Number of Midway meeting held at the DNS 4 4 0

Number of construction and maintenance actions held with students 6 5 -1

Number of events held related to the primary education sector 15 16 1

Open Sundays 4 5 1

Open Sunday with a theme showing talents by students and influence

on the community on the education of the learners. 4 6 2

Number of members participating in community lessons conducted by

students 2,500 2,700 200

Number of children in remedial lessons 1,000 840 -120

Number of community based pre-schools supervised in outreach pro-

ject 7 7 0

Objective 3: Team 2013 (March)

Number of students attending lessons in “Teaching practice and further

studies,” “and Consolidation and Charter subjects” 120 73 -47

Community members organised in clubs for community lessons in

Agro-Forestry, Health, HIV/AIDS awareness, Adult Literacy and tai-

loring.

250 263 13

Community members engaged in activities for environmental protec-

tion through mobilisation and education 150 145 -5

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PROJECT IN NUMBERS

Girls clubs in surrounding primary schools established and facilitated

which are promoting children’s rights and raising awareness about

threats to their positive developments

4 8 4

Objective 4: Team 2013 (September)

Number of student teachers enrolled 120 91 -29

Objective 5: DNS as a center for education in the community

Number of community members participating in community lessons

conducted by students 2,500 2,700 200

Number of children taught in remedial lessons 1,000 840 -120

Number of lessons given to community members attending community

lessons in knitting, adult literacy, tailoring, health and HIV/AIDS and;

English for beginners

44 42 -2

Number of community based pre-schools reached and guided by the

college through the supervisors in its outreach program 7 7 0

Number of pre-school children under 5 receiving better care and educa-

tion in the pre-schools 200 218 18

Objective 6: Other activities

Events held related to the primary education sector 15 16 1

Hectares of land used for vegetable and food production 4 5 1

Other sports competitions hosted 5 12 +7

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PROJECT IN PICTURES

During one of the building weekends, students and their teachers constructed a fireplace unit

The students have been responsible for the general cleaning and maintenance of the buses they

will travel in during the four months travel in Sub-Saharan countries

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PROJECT IN PICTURES

The college’s netball and football teams competed in the Airtel Rising Stars competition at

district level in Dowa

Through the Umodzi Project, students identify needy children in the community and assist

them with their basic school needs

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Recommendation Letter

From the District Education Manager

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Article about Chibwata Girls’ Club Featured in the DAPP Newsletter for October 2013

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ATTACHMENT Speech by Graduating Students’ Representative

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ATTACHMENT Speech by Graduating Students’ Representative