Dr. Andrew Tazi Mbencho:“Teachers Are Adjusting More Than Students”

Principal, GBHS Kumba

How is your school going about with the remedial classes ordered by the Minister of Secondary Education to bring students to the level after missing two terms of studies last year?

To cover that period that was lost last academic year, we have to take classes from 7:30am to 3:30pm instead of 2:30pm. Then, we gain one more hour per day. On Saturday we take classes from 8:00am to 12 noon which means we have four periods. We do this per the Minister’s instructions for September, October and November this year. We have calculated the number of periods that we are going to gain and we have discovered that they are so many and this exercise is to cover the period that was lost last year by our students.
Are there any hitches conducting this type of courses?
When there is a change, there is always some difficulties and I think that the difficulties are from the stand point of students principally because they are used to being in school from 7:30am to 2:30pm. I think this time, the additional hours is not very easy for them. Sometimes they are hungry because they are spending more time in school instead of running home to get something to eat. So from the stand point of students certainly there are difficulties. We advised them that all what we are doing is for their interest.
Are the teachers collaborating?
Yes, for our teachers, you know we use to close at 2:30pm but this time we close at 3:30pm and so it is not easy for them to spend this extra one hour. We are adjusting more than before. Even for the administrative staff that use to close at 2:30pm, for them now to spend one additional hour in school is not e...