Results from the project to improve primary education in Xa Muteba

Details of the project can be found under the "Special programs" menu.

Results, 2008

The project has many results which can be measured in figures, for example:

• The pass rates in school have jumped to around 90%, (+/- 5%)
• 1910 people have taken part in literacy lessons
• 17 latrines have been constructed, with many more on the way.

This, however, does not give a true measure of the success of the project. The project promotes education and development in as broad a way as possible, involving the community as a whole in order to solve the problems at hand.  Better educational results have, for instance, been achieved not only by improving lessons but also by teaching parents the importance of schooling their children – including girls; physical education in school and organised extra-curricular sports have improved student concentration and well being; vegetable gardens and nutrition lessons have improved their physical well being. All of these factors have had a dramatic effect on the results of the children currently in school, and have set a new standard for coming students. It has also impacted on the educational level of the community as a whole as the students have participated in teaching other members of the community, e.g. in Saturday schools.

Sustainable development
The project has been enthusiastically embraced by local communities and has received the support of the local authorities. Activities such as sports have been welcomed and are becoming self supporting. There are many concrete examples of sustainability:

• In the process of building latrines, a “Latrine Construction Club” has been started to take charge of the task of constructing further latrines and continuously mobilizing people to assist.
• HIV campaigns led to the creation of a teenagers’ HIV club which is now supported by the Provincial Director of Health.
• A network has been put in place whereby all local educators can share resources, build capacity and receive in-service training.

The capacity training of fellow teachers has been, and will continue to be, one of the biggest improvements in the quality of life in the area. This training has contributed to higher standards for the individual teachers and to the creation of a network between all teachers across the schools. This means that improved capacity can be sustained and improved upon in the future. The teachers now see themselves as a team with the responsibility to achieve good results on behalf of each child and adult.

The 8 trainee teachers from  EPF Cabinda finished one full school year in Xa Muteba in December 08. They returned to the teacher training college and graduated as fully trained teachers in January 2009. After graduation all teachers applied to the Provincial Government to return to Xa Muteba and, at present, 6 have been able to do so. They have not been returned to the same school which means that they are able now to spread better quality education and community development further in Xa Muteba.

The municipal authorities have expressed great satisfaction with the project results so far. Amonst other things, they note the importance of the school as an educational and cultural centre in the municipality. The administration participates regularly in the project activities and events, as well as in meetings with project staff.  They fully expect to continue their cooperation to ensure development in the area. 

Both the authorities and the general public have commented on the rapid transformation of the school, and in particular on the importance of extracurricular activities to the community.