Special Education At Gyetighi Primary School
TCF launched our Special Education Program at Gyetighi Primary School (GPS) to accommodate diverse learners and create a more equitable level of education for students.
Teacher Susan Ngowi has been passionately leading a classroom of nine students of varying ages and disabilities. Committed to meeting the unique needs of each student, Susan has implemented a variety of successful initiatives including extracurricular activities.
The most popular extracurricular activity by far has been a garden that Susan started to keep the students stimulated and engaged in the afternoons. This mini permaculture project has sparked tremendous joy and enthusiasm amongst the group!
Susan explains that gardening helps teach life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and communication. It has created opportunities to transform the more mundane classroom lessons into fun, hands-on lessons in an active environment.
Susan and the GPS Education Director, Wanyaga Nyaga, have worked together to help the Special Education Program blossom since it launched last year.
They have weekly, direct communication with parents to provide updates, concerns, and progress. Support for students with special needs is rare in Tanzania so parents are thrilled to finally have a program where their children can thrive!
With regular training on the topic of special needs and varied learning styles, teachers at GPS have been able to better identify students in need of extra support.
Overall a greater sense of understanding and community has been created for special needs students.
As the number of students grows at each of our partner schools, we will continue prioritizing individualized attention and student-centered learning.