Today started on a sour note when the hotels/local dog whom we named "rabies dog" was found lacking vital organs on the main road. Our trip to 94 school starts with a very dicey crossing of the dual carriageway which runs outside our hotel, the main road between Accra and Cape Coast. Myself, Sophie and Tutu were making the journey alone for thr first time today, and we managed to successfully navigate a tro-tro ride from opposite the hotel to Kasoa. From there we made the lengthy (because its hot!) walk to the school through Kasoa market and the slum. The school day begins with a huge gathering of all of the students from P1 to JHS in the courtyard to sing the Omega school song, the national anthem, and repeat the national pledge, along with other hymns, songs and prayers. This ritual ends with the students marchign class by class to another song into their classrooms. The kindergarten and nursery classes then come out to do this seperately. The local area consists of a mixture of Muslims and Christians, who appear to live in relative harmony, although the songs and prayers at school appear to be quite Christian oriented, and I am not sure how this would be perceived in the UK, particularly by the parents of the non-Christian students.
This morning me and Tutu conducted the Burt Reading tests for Sophie's phonics research. It was shocking how little the students could read, and although many knew their letters well, they struggled to convert this knowledge into full words. However there were two stars who did much better than their peers, suggesting wide disparities in attainment within the group. The tests were however interrupted when the KG1 and nursery classes took their break and literally mobbed Tutu and I- when we got out a camera this situation escalated and there were many children on top of us, this was casually dispersed by a round of heads, shoulders, knees and toes!We were served a lunch of plantain and beans (with some chicken) by the school- not entirely great for my plantain allergy but I ate what I could! After this, and a chat with Ken and JT (by phone) we were fixed up with local sim cards and Omega t-shirts (although mine is still to come as I politely let the others take them first). **Good News- Tutu has just informed us that rabies dog is alive and well- but potentially lacking a brother/friend/cousin.** Then we headed to 'Shoprite', the supermarket on the way to Accra and picked up some essential supplies (including magical elves?!). On the way I also noticed a sign which was fantastic, and definately worth noting- 'For Sale- Grasscutter/Rabbit'.
One thing I noticed today about Ken and the Omega school chain is their constant strive for improvement and innnovation- for example the 94 school is soon to get a computer room and he seems to want this for all of his schools. They are also attempting (with Simiao's help) to introduce Chinese into the curriculum- an idea that appears more advanced than English curricula.
This evening we have been to the local JD's Fast food restaurant, and I had pizza- the first day since I arrived that has not included at least one meal of chicken and rice!!!! We are certainly becoming tro-pro's as we seem to be making our way successfully to all of these varying locations! Tomorrow is my last day in 94 school so I am hoping to pick up some Ghanaian language lessons, but shall aim to return for research purposes very soon!
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