CPD Programme, latest developments

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will be aware of the trouble I have had starting the CPD (Continuing Professional Development) course in the ten schools of our cluster. First, last year, it was not having the Amharic translation, not being able to get enough paper, the print machine being broken etc etc. Then on my return to Ethiopia, it was not having a counterpart as promised, problems with paper, toner, master sheets, the print-room guy wanting extra money for printing (on top of his salary) etc etc. Then when we were finally ready to go, and introduced it to the two nearest schools we used as a test, they rebelled and wanted paying for doing the training, even though, as in the UK, you are expected to do a certain amount of in-service training as a teaching professional. This we finally solved through a lot of long meetings with zonal (big area) and woreda (small area) officials.

Now that we were (reasonably) happy that the first teachers were doing the course, we planned to introduce it to more of the schools. Delays with transport again caused problems (the college only has one car for all its business now – it cannot afford repairs to the others which are broken – most likely because of the uneven road surface.)

Anyway, last week, after visiting the schools, we confirmed the dates when we could introduce the course to the teachers. I booked the car, I re-checked the car several times at several different levels of hierarchy including before lunch on Wednesday, the day of the first training session. All ok.

I arrived back at the college after lunch, collected my materials, walked to the car and with the mobile network down and 30 teachers waiting 25km away in an hour, was told the Dean said we couldn’t use the car because there is not enough fuel.

There is a bit of a fuel crisis in Ethiopia at the moment. Apparently it’s to do with the global fuel price fluctuations and the merchants wanting the government to absorb some of the cost changes. Anyway, there is currently no fuel in Gilgel, or Chagni our nearest town 50km away or even Kosober which is the first link to asphalt road, about 100km away. Even Bahir Dar has huge queues of trucks and buses waiting for fuel. So I guess the Dean had a little point, but they would’ve known this days before. As it was, I was told 10 minutes before I was due to leave!

Anyway, I went to the Dean and managed to change his mind, with the help of some others. On the way, we told the four schools due for the course on Thursday and Friday we would have to cancel. We finally reached our destination and, working as a team, with most being done by my colleagues in Amharic (passing on my skills and knowledge so that others can do it is working a bit!), introduced the CPD course to a group of teachers from two schools. They reacted positively, and hopefully will start the course very soon – we will be back to check in a few weeks. We thought it went well.

Now we have to figure out how to get to the other schools…

On the way back, a “quick” stop to pick up some computers for Göran to fix from another school turned into a one hour marathon: The “so you’ll have the computers boxed up and ready for collection” turned out to be “the computers are still in situ, we don’t have any boxes, and the woman who has to sign and stamp the release form lives 30mins round-trip walk away.”

Oh, and since getting home, we’ve had another 3hr power cut. I’m writing this on batteries!!!

Life in Ethiopia…

Additional:

Sometimes I think I am living my life in “Blog moments.” When something happens, I think ‘that’ll be good on the blog.’