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The case for and against allowing Bethany girls to visit the UK for further Education
Since 2007 Bethany has been given the opportunity each year to send up to 3 of our older girls to study ‘Childcare and Education’ level 3 Diploma at Accrington and Rossendale College. We have also been offered 3 places for those girls who have completed the diploma to continue their studies at Blackburn University Centre for a Lancaster BA (Hons) Degree in ‘Education’.
Sogeska secondary school; is our local school which has improved greatly since it first opened a few years ago. Unfortunately, however, the school struggles to find enough qualified teachers and has few resources. They do not have a computer suite, a fully equipped library or science laboratory or enough text books to give one for each child. However, Bethany is very supportive of the school and all our children who have passed to go to secondary school attend. We also provide extra education at Bethany especially English.
Accrington and Rossendale College has a huge range of resources including a large Library housing 1.000’s of books and many computers with 24 hour internet access to assist students in their studies. Class sizes are in the region of 20 pupils per tutor and every learning resource is provided. The college was examined in 2010 by government inspectors and found to be ‘Outstanding’ .
Course Offered: Accrington and Rossendale College offers the Bethany girls a level 3 diploma course in ‘Children’s Care Learning and Development’. This is an internationally recognised qualification (BTEC) which qualifies the girls to care for and educate young children. The web address is as follows:
http://www.edexcel.com/quals/btec-sc/ccld/lvl3/ccld/Pages/default.aspx
The diploma is equal to 3 GCSE A levels (General Certificate of Secondary Education Advanced level)) and can help to qualify for University entrance (UK and abroad).
Entry for Bethany girls is on our recommendation, interview and assessment and the girls must be 16 yrs or over. All girls so far selected have passed with 3 grade A’s (China, Jesca, Emmakulatha, Sophia and Fatuma) and one girl (Minza) with 2 grade A’s and a grade B. Only 2 of the girls completed secondary education in Tanzania (China and Emmakulatha) the other 4 girls are std 7 leavers (Yitwimila primary school). However, a great deal of extra Education was undertaken at Bethany preparing the girls for the course.
Why allow girls to go to the UK before completing their secondary education?
(The girls can always complete their Secondary Education on their return)
We believe it is better to take up the offer of further education when it is offered rather than hope that it may be available in future years (after finishing their secondary education). Whilst in the UK the girls have studied and obtained various GCSE’s (General Certificate of Secondary Education) including English, Maths, Science and R.E. We are also introducing GCSE’s in History and English literature.
Also, the girls can complete their secondary education on their return if this is deemed necessary.
Advantages of studying in the UK: First and foremost the students improve their English immensely. They obtain an internationally recognised diploma ‘Children’s Care Learning and Development’ which many private schools value. They gain in confidence and also they take various GCSE subjects to broaden their education. Many private English medium schools are interested in employing these girls. It is interesting to note that the first president of Tanzania Julius Nyerere received his highest educational degree qualification form a UK university (University of Edinburgh).
Disadvantages of not finishing Secondary Education in Tanzania: Apparently we are told by some government officials that it is difficult to obtain a job within the government without a secondary school certificate. This may be an assumed obstacle rather than a reality especially if the education received abroad is at a higher level than that of a secondary school certificate provided in Tanzania. None of our students have shown any inclination of wanting to work for the government so this in itself should not represent an obstacle. Probably the greatest disadvantage is the lack of understanding and appreciation of the course and opportunity being offered by those who have only experienced the Tanzanian system.
Benefits to Tanzania: Four of the five girls who have completed the course and returned to Tanzania are gainfully employed all except Eva who is preparing for marriage. Unfortunately we don’t presently know about her situation.
During the first two weeks of July this year (2011) Emmakulatha and Jesca who have received 3 and 4 yrs education respectively in the UK held seminars on ‘Childcare’ at Bethany and helped 22 care-workers/teachers from 4 different children’s homes / schools as well as all the care-workers at Bethany and std 6 and secondary school girls. This was done on a ‘not for profit basis’ and all those who attended from outside organisations (Forever Angels, Tumaini, Starehe and JBFC) all said they would recommend it for others to attend.
Web sites:
Accrington and Rossendale College: http://www.accross.ac.uk/
Blackburn University Centre: http://www.blackburn.ac.uk/ucbc.html
Lancaster University: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/
Background History so far: After a visit by the Bethany choir to the UK in 2006, Accrington and Rossendale College offered a number of vocational courses for students from the Bethany Children’s Home. Accrington and Rossendale College is a government inspected College and has earned through inspection an ‘outstanding’ classification by Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education ).
In 2007, 5 boys and 3 girls came to England,
The 5 Boys (2007-2008) did 12 month vocational courses including Carpentry, Electrical study, Plumbing, Painting and Decorating, Bricklaying and Plastering. Unfortunately one of the boys (Andrea Mtaki) had to be returned due to bad behaviour. All are now back in Tanzanian and living independent lives, two of them are finishing their secondary education and three of them are gainfully employed.
Unfortunately we have been unable to find volunteers since this first year who are prepared or able to provide accommodation for more boys.
The 3 Girls (2007-2008) all completed their 12 month certificate course in ‘childcare and education’. Unfortunately one girl (Eva Sitta) was returned early to avoid prosecution by the police in the UK due to her being caught stealing on several occasions. Eva also caused problems by starting various rumours which were fully investigated at the time and found to be false.
After completing the course two of the girls (Rehema and Eva) were given jobs at Isamilo International school as teaching assistants and a third girl (Jesca) was given the opportunity to return to the UK along with two others (China and Emmakulatha) to complete a 2 year diploma course in ‘Childcare and Education’ starting September 2008.
(2008-2009) After 12 months 3 more girls joined them to start the first year of the 2 year course. At this time September 2009 we had 6 girls studying the course, 3 in their 1st year of the course and 3 in their 2nd year of the course. During this academic year (2009) it became apparent that two of the girls (Jesca and Emmakulatha in the second year of their studies) would benefit from a Lancaster BA degree course in ‘Education’ being taught at Blackburn University centre. ( Lancaster is considered to be the 6th best university in the UK and ranked 24th in the world*. By way of comparison the University of Dar-es-Salaam is considered to be the best University in Tanzania and the 1,370th in the world*.) We felt it appropriate that the girls should take up the offer of doing the 3 year degree course.
(2009 – 2010) The three girls in their second year finished their course and all 3 of them got grade A’s. Jesca and Emmakulatha were ready to start the following year on the three year degree course and China returned to Bethany Tanzania and immediately got a job as a teacher at JBFC primary school, 12 months after taking the job as a teacher she is now in charge of 3 classes. During this time Rehema had moved to another better paid job as a teacher at a private primary school in Gaita.
(2010 – 2011) Jesca and Emmakulatha started and completed their first year at Blackburn University Centre studying for their degree and achieved good grades hopefully working towards a first class honours degree. The other three girls (Minza, Fatuma and Sophia) finished their 2nd year of their diploma. Minza is predicted a grade B and Sophia and Fatuma are predicted grade A’s. Sophia has been accepted at Blackburn University Centre to do the same ‘Education’ degree as Emmakulatha and Jesca. Minza and Fatuma have returned to Bethany and are employed as Teachers.
So far (July 2011) 8 girls have been given the opportunity of studying in the UK.
2 of them received certificates, 6 of them have diplomas (one with both a certificate and diploma) and 3 are progressing to obtain degrees.
Of the three girls doing the degree course only one (Emmakulatha) had the benefit of completing her secondary education whilst the other two (Jesca and Sophia) have only completed Std 7 primary school.
Whilst in the UK 4 of the girls have obtained GCSE maths and two have gone on to take GCSE higher Maths. 2 of the girls have GCSE English, GCSE Science and GCSE R.E. and are studying for GCSE’s in History and English Literature. Two of our girls are learning to drive.
Whilst studying in the UK the girls wear traditional clothing and are encouraged to hold traditional values and are not allowed inappropriate relationships.
The Future: July – August 2011 sees three more girls preparing to come and study the 2 year diploma course. The visa restrictions have required them to undertake an IELTS English examination and obtain a band 4 mark. The three girls studied hard at Bethany with help from volunteers and we are pleased to say the marks obtained were as follows: Rehema band 6, Deborah band 5.5 and Mpelwa band 5.
At present Rehema is in form 4 at Secondary school, Mpelwa form 3 and Deborah form 2.
They have been accepted at Accrington and Rossendale College for the course and have the necessary IELTS pass marks.
Conclusion: In the past since 2007 the Social Welfare department has been supportive of our visa applications to take advantage of the education being offered.
It is sad to hear that Eva (perhaps due to her unexpected pregnancy and unfortunately having a history of spreading rumours and stealing) has chosen to report to social welfare a complete fabrication of the truth making spurious allegations against Bethany. I am sure that Social Welfare will be visiting others who have had the advantage of being educated in the UK to see how different the truth really is. Four of our girls who have taken advantage of the education in the UK are now working in Tanzania (Minza and Fatuma at Bethany, China at Kitongo and Rehema at Geita)
When this investigation is complete I am sure that Social Welfare will once again be enthusiastically encouraging our children to take this once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the UK to further their Education.
Consequences: It has been suggested to us that to refuse to allow children this opportunity would be working against their best interests, possibly an infringement of their human rights.
We feel sure that once this document has been read and understood no further action will need to be taken.
Web sites
*Lancaster University rating: http://www.lums.lancs.ac.uk/news/18411/ft-2010-mba-ranking/
*Dar-es-Salaam University rating: http://www.4icu.org/reviews/4471.htm
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