Frog in My Shoe

After the winter break students started showing up to enroll for the 10th grad accelerated course we are offering in February so that they can enter into the teacher training program in August. The teacher training program is for those who have completed 10th grade, and during the 2 and half year program they complete an 11th and 12th grade education and are trained to be primary school teachers.

There was nothing prepared for this enrollment process, all I know is the teachers and Director started telling the students showing up that I was in charge of those interested in applying. What? Me? I quickly figured out a system of what documents to ask from the students, how to keep track of those wanting to apply, when the test would be, etc.

Over 100 students tested for 24 spots. I don´t even think we advertised at all, it was mostly by word of mouth. Today a mother showed up with two daughters begging me to let them take the test even though more than 100 would be in line before them for these spaces. I gave in even though I told everyone I would put my foot down and stop letting students apply. She was the first mother to come with her children. All of the others came on their own, with friends, or their father came to apply for them (especially common for the daughters). I have told the students if they could do the 10th grade elsewhere they were more than welcome to apply for the teacher training program that starts in August. They tell me everywhere is full. Some try year after year to enroll into a 10th grade class.

I am told that the teacher training college used to struggle to have students enroll…I think this is a sign of the changing Angola…now families are doing a bit better financially and can afford to send their children to school. Also, perhaps people’s mindframes are changing to realize how important an education can be to have a better quality of life.

I think about how accessible education is in the US and how much we worry about getting into a certain college or university. The fact is, if we don’t get into one school we can get into another. If we can´t afford one school, there is another one that is more affordable. There are grants, financial aid, and loans. Most in the US don´t have to compete and struggle to find a school to finish the 10th grade.

We were told that Angola was lacking schools, but being the one to have to turn down dozens of students who want to be part of the 10th grade (mind you, most of the students trying to enroll are 18 years old or older) is just so heartbreaking. People shouldn’t have to fight to finish a high school level education.

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In other news, a frog moved into my sneaker. A scorpion pranced by my front door and a tarantula-like spider scattered passed me and Sabrina while walking through the "mountains" behind the school. We also have a little kitten named Tito to help keep away the rats that were keeping us from sleeping at night.