Yovana, the director of the Picol public primary school we’ve been supporting since 2013, provides an insight into how the first weeks since the beginning of the school year on March 28 are progressing: face-to-face interactions and tutoring classes.
“We’ll be starting a tutoring program tomorrow. Six hours will be dedicated every week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1.30 to 3.30pm. A typical school day ending at 1pm. As most children live far from the school and can’t afford to make a round trip, we made the decision to do it at school allowing them a 30-minute break to eat and play. We explained to the parents that the pandemic had disrupted their children progress academically and they committed to providing them with an additional snack.
The school teachers will be fully in charge of these sessions. We did try to bring additional support in, but it is very difficult to find people who agree to work for a few hours a day on specific days. We hope everything goes as planned!
Class is held every day from 8am to 1pm and kids are delighted to be back at school. Unfortunately, many of them get there late since they don’t live nearby and need to take several buses or just because the bus drivers wouldn’t allow them in as they only pay a discounted “pupil” rate.
Parents are also over the moon to know their little ones can finally return to school. Many of them shared the concerns and the difficulties they faced when they had to home-school. They mentioned the lack of connection, the limits of the tools they were using (try teaching class via Whatsapp), but also because their limited knowledge made them feel a bit useless.
We are all super motivated and enthusiastic to support all children in their learning path.”
Yovana, May 2, 2022
You can help to support the Picol school and follow its pupils by sponsoring one of the classes. To learn more, click here.