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Copy of Sharon Gerrard’s email to Mr. Dunford Makala
Commissioner for Social Welfare, Tanzania
26th August 2011
Dear Sir,
I am writing to you on behalf of the three girls from the Bethany Family; Rehema, Mpelwa and Deborah, who are currently waiting to come and study in the UK.
You must be very proud of the law that states that all orphans should have the chance to attend secondary school and this is highly commendable. However, the educational opportunities offered for the Bethany children in the UK are quite extraordinary. You only have to look at the standard of English produced by Jesca and Ema and the others to see for yourself. The success stories of previous Bethany children educated in England show that these young people are coming back to Tanzania determined to make a difference to their family, community and country. Tanzanian children whose parents choose to find alternative education it seems are able to do so, but when this is now presented as an opportunity for Bethany children, it appears that they are being discriminated against because they are orphans.
I fully understand that you also are required to ensure the social welfare of all children and here in the UK the Bethany young people are living with house parents who have worked with the Bethany Project since it’s inception, who fully understand the social and cultural norms for Tanzanian young adults and who are in constant contact with Daniel Bujiku.
I have looked at the results from Sogeska Secondary school and I am rather alarmed to see that boys and girls achievement is so different. Questions need to be asked why boys are outperforming girls to such a great extent.
I have taught in the UK for 17years and for the past 6 years I have been the deputy headteacher in a large primary school in England. The college offering the education, Accrington and Rossendale college, is judged by Ofsted to provide outstanding provision. This is not easy to attain. Outstanding means that the resources for learning and quality of teaching provided there, as well as the students results, are some of the best in the UK.
I first visited the Bethany family in 1998 when there were 9 children, two of them being China and Mwita who have grreatly benefited from the educational opportunities gained in the UK. Since then I have made a number of visits, spending time in Yitwimila Primary school and supporting the education at the home.
I urge you to urgently reconsider your position regarding the education of these three Bethany girls in the UK, because, if they are to make the most of the opportunities for education in the UK’ it is imperative that they begin the course at the start of the academic year in September, to gain the internationally recognised qualification in early years education. With current funding as it stands, it is unknown whether these opportunities will be available in the future.
Thank you for taking the time to read and think about this email.
Yours faithfully
Sharon Gerrard B.Ed Hons(Mus), MA, NPQH
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