Week 30 (11 - 17 Feb 2007)

This week was quiet again - the students have not returned due to the meningitis outbreak. We continued with our painting of the doors and frames and I started on the “shower room”. It was a very dark grey and with two coats of white paint is now at least less grey! I will try to do a further coat next week. It is much brighter already and after the first coat I almost needed my sunglasses! The temperature dropped for three our four days mid-week giving us a welcome respite from the heat – but it’s back again today (Saturday).

We were invited out for lunch with a UK couple (Heather is from N Ireland) who work in Sudan but also have a house in Arua for much needed breaks. They have been in Africa for about 20 years and were able to give us some more tips on survival in exchange for some computer advice. I think we gained more! We also saw their picture of their recent holiday in Zanzibar. Nice place!

Our week ended on Friday with a staff meeting which was both informative and encouraging. We felt much more at home than at the beginning of the last term and were able to contribute to the discussions. A major part of the meeting concerned the ‘O’-level exam results. Just like in the UK, it’s difficult to compare with last year because the criteria have changed! However, I was able to do some subject analysis on both years (2005 & 2006) so that some comparisons could be made. Overall, the results are very good for the area but slightly down on last year. As the school is new there are only two sets of results so far. The analysis was well received, which was encouraging, and the teachers seemed to be open to further analysis and working out what can be done to improve.

Andrea will be taking all four of the Maths classes, at least until a replacement can be found. At the moment, I will take over a second Physics class (S2) which leaves a further Physics class (S3) yet to be covered. [S4 is the ‘O’-level exam and fourth year.] Weekly brief staff meetings have been planned with longer meetings each month. Before now there have just been meetings at the start and end of each term. The Maths/Physics teacher who is leaving is also the Director of Studies and his replacement has been appointed. I have been asked to assist him following my work on the public exam results.

Our one frustration is that due to the meningitis outbreak, all West Nile schools will remain closed for another two weeks – until 5^th March. Our neighbour, John, feels the same saying that he was in danger of “developing long distance lorry driver’s buttocks” i.e. sitting around too much!!! Public meetings have been banned in Arua in order to try to stop it spreading further. The vaccination has been held up as there is an outbreak in DR Congo also and there only one manufacturer of the vaccine in the world. We do not know of anyone personally affected but children have died – so please pray for those affected and the medical teams.