Please donate to my project if you haven’t already (Click here). We are almost there. This will make a world of a difference to the students in my school.
National testing has engulfed West Africa over the past couple of weeks as the WASSCE started right after Easter break and finishes tomorrow. WASSCE is a mandatory national exam for 12th graders in the West African countries of Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and The Gambia. Students need a pass on this exam in 5 subjects in order to graduate high school. Here in Liberia students take 9 subjects a year during senior high school (grades 10 – 12). They must pass the WASSCE in English and Math, and then in at least 3 other subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Literature, Geography and History. The exam in the 3 sciences consists of a conceptual component as well as a laboratory (practical) component, which is why my project is so vitally important. We hope our students do better this year than last year when none of the seniors passed, but they are at a disadvantage in that they have not been exposed to all the necessary material. My aim is to correct that imbalance in their education, at least for future students – especially the current 9th, 10th and 11th graders.
Later in the week is the 9th grade exam (WAEC). Ninth graders take 4 subjects and must pass in 3 of them: English, Math, General Science and Social Studies. Unfortunately, the 9th grade results are rarely enforced meaning that students can still be promoted to 10th grade as long as they pass in the school, which is not the best set-up for their future high school years.
My Math and Physics students are progressing in their learning. Measuring progress sometimes is very discouraging for me because it happens much slower than I would like. I was especially frustrated because students took much longer to come back after Easter break. Overall the students are learning and hopefully will continue that. National testing takes a few weeks, and after that is finished there is one more 6-week period for the year. Supposedly, school runs until the middle of July, but I have a hard time imagining that, since students will likely just stop coming which means lost lesson time. We shall see what happens over the next few weeks.
It is starting to rain more often and more intensely. That will pick up as summer approaches. I like the rain since the temperature is usually much cooler without the sun shining, though most Liberians complain about how cold it is (generally it’s in the low to mid-70’s).
Again, please donate to my project if you haven’t already. We are almost there. But we need to have the project fully funded in order to start work on it, and time is of the essence if we want the lab to be ready by next fall. This will make a world of difference to the students in my school. The link to donate is HERE.
And a HUGE thanks if you have already donated!
Andy
