Summary of project status and achievements:
During September, another month long intake of the LISa basic computer skills class began and concluded. The intake followed the established curriculum and was generally successful, although attendance reduced dramatically toward the end of the intake due to changes made to the Mwange secondary school schedule. This change, which occurred during the last week of the computer class, made it difficult for secondary school students also enrolled in the computer class to attend computer classes.
During the end of September, recruitment was also conducted for the next intake of computer classes, which began on 28 September. Application numbers were low; the computer lab typically enrolls 55 students per intake, but for this intake only 47 students were enrolled in three classes, as only 47 students applied. Of those 47 students, many turned out to be younger than those students that LISa usually accepts. Some of these 10 or 11 year old students had falsified their applications, claiming to be in grade 8 or 9 when in reality they are in grade 5. The youth of some of the students has caused some difficulties with the curriculum, as some of them struggle with reading and writing, particularly in French. Many of the notes for the computer class are written in French because either the Swahili words for the topics under consideration are extremely rare or because these words simply do not exist in Swahili. The computer teacher has been attempting to make small modifications to the curriculum as necessary to ensure that students will still be able to learn the covered material.
Additionally, while the students were originally enrolled in three classes, because of school schedules and other issues, students are only attending two of the classes, with no one choosing to attend during the third time slot.
The PM and the LISa coordinator sought feedback from the community regarding the computer lab in hopes that this feedback would help to create a plan for how to best use the empty computer class time slot, as well as how to organize the computer lab’s activities through November. The feedback was varies, with some respondents requesting more practice time and some requesting additional classes on topics aside from Microsoft Word and Excel. A great number of respondents also indicated that the recruitment system for classes needs improvement, as they are never informed as to when they should come to apply for classes.
The PM and the LISa coordinator are hoping to change the recruitment system for the next intake. As this intake continues, the PM would like to see the empty time slot be used to meet other peoples’ requests. Personally, she does not think that it should just be used for unstructured practice time each day, as there is a fair amount of practice time at the computer lab each day, which visitors often use for activities such as playing games or watching videos. Instead, she would like to see the computer teacher offer short, 2-hour drop-in workshops on topics other than Word and Excel that could interest students. However, this idea is complicated by the fact that the computer teacher is currently planning to go on leave, and also by the power situation at the computer lab. It has begun to rain in Mwange and classes have already been canceled once due to a lack of power. The PM and LISa staff continue to communicate about these issues and to plan for the upcoming time.
Indicators and Statistics:
Included in the indicators spreadsheet.
Future goals:
Based on feedback from the community, the PM and the LISa coordinator will plan to adopt a different strategy for student recruitment during October in order to ensure that all community members have the information they need to apply to the last intake of computer classes.
Substantial problems or issues:
None.
Wishes or request:
None.
Budget status:
Included in the expense monitor.
