There is indeed a gap between the quality of education a student receives from a school in America compared to the education provided in Tanzania. However, there is no difference between the capabilities of a child in Musoma to learn any and all subject matter compared to students in Indiana.
The difference is simply the level and quality of resources available to teachers and students from both countries. Little by little, schools like the St. Paul School and their leaders are advancing to match the resources typically found at American Catholic schools.
Fr. Robert compares notes with students from Triton School in Bourbon, Indiana
Pre-Primary Education
Pre-Primary is the entry into formal classroom education for most children in Tanzania. This "nursery school" stage typically lasts 1 or 2 years. These nursery school age students then graduate into first grade and continue with their primary school education year by year.
St. Paul Pre and Primary School has two classrooms for nursery school students and two classrooms for each subsequent grade until grade 7 when it is finally completed in the years ahead.
Primary Education: Grades 1 thru 7
Primary education lasts up to age 15 in Tanzania. Unfortunately poorer parents are unable to afford uniforms, school materials, books, and examination fees. The children of these poorer parents are often deprived of a continuing education that can lift a family out of poverty.
All children (typically the 7th graders) must pass the same examination to obtain a primary school certificate. Public education is free. Private education is typically provided by the Catholic Church and requires a certain amount of tuition.
The demand for private education exceeds the Church’s ability to handle all the children from parents who want the highest quality education for their children. The reality is that public schools do not provide near the same quality of education for their students.
Catholic schools have a tremendously successful track record of preparing their students to progress as far as they want for their continuing education.
Most African students who qualify for scholarships in higher education are products of Catholic schools. St. Paul School students are no different.
Middle Education
Following the 7th grade, students enter into four years of junior secondary schooling. This would be similar to 8th grade thru high school in the United States.
Nominal annual tuition fees are levied for students who attend public schools. Students are expected to master English although Swahili language classes are also included. There are examinations that must be passed by each student to receive their certifications.
Secondary Education (college level)
Secondary education in Tanzania is similar to post-high school education at the college level in America. Some students attend college for 2 years and some students progress to an advanced level which lasts for 4 years. The advanced level is available only at certain boarding schools, which effectively often means the end of the road for many a poor child because of cost.
Vocational Education
Vocational education and training is offered to qualified students and lasts for 1 year. A government authority sets standards and issues educational and training guides, for implementation through a network of state and private colleges. Other roles include entrepreneurship development, gender issues in the workplace, and the opposition against child labor.
Tertiary Education (post-college graduate level)
Tertiary education takes a minimum of 3 years, at a wide variety of institutions under control of the ministry of higher education. Of these the oldest is the University of Dar es Salaam, which was established in 1970 following the dissolution of the University of East Africa into 3 national institutions.
There are 5 campuses in the city and 10 faculties. These include mechanical
& chemical engineering, electrical & computer systems engineering,
civil engineering & the built environment, humanities & social
sciences, and education.
Catholic school education requires a financial sacrifice for parents in the US and places like East Africa. An income sacrifice for teachers and staff also exists for Catholic schools in any country.
Students at St. Paul School also must sacrifice their time from doing other things with family and friends because they must devote so much time to walking to school and attending school and studying at home in the evening.
US Catholic school students attend and remain in nursery school and primary school and high school at a level well beyond their copunterparts in Tanzania. Poverty is the elephant in the room.
Both US and Tanzanian students have the same abilities to be successful in the classroom. The quality of teachers from both countries are the same. The educational content is the same. English is spoken in the same manner. Prayer is the same. Daily Mass is the same.
The difference is that Tanzanian parents are sometimes stressed to find the money for books and uniforms and tuition. That is the only difference.
Join us and let's find ways to share. St. Paul School kids and their parents and teachers know how to pray. US folks know how to share our blessings.
