Spent all day observing what PIN do. PIN are a Czech NGO who have set up a course for 1^st and 2^nd cycle primary teachers to come into a purpose-built centre on the campus of Awassa College, for training in the use of active learning and pupil-centred teaching techniques. I spent the day watching Petra (one of the Czech staff) working with a group of 17 teachers. Fascinating. She got the teachers playing games (basically Brain Gym stuff) and practicing planning units of work. In the afternoon she played them some of “River Vltava” from the “My Country” suite by Smetana, and then the teachers had to paint a picture representing the images they thought of during the music. Two people painted the flag ceremony, where every morning the kids in their school sing the national anthem while the Ethiopian flag is raised. I would love to be a trainer on their course. Working directly with Ethiopian teachers is so interesting. One of the physics teachers I met today has four Grade 8 classes. His smallest class has 104 pupils!

If my day with PIN could be compared to a satisfying meal, then my subsequent meeting with the college Dean was the crap cup of coffee which leaves a bitter aftertaste. Teydin, the IFESH vol, had told me in the morning that he wanted to see me. My expectation that he might have something concrete to discuss with me was snuffed out as soon as the meeting started. He still wants me to do Higher Diploma impact assessment (which VSO agree is a non-starter) and is continuing to suggest I teach physics, even though no need has been identified. A half hour phone conversation with my programme manager achieved little, other than her realising how angry and frustrated I can feel. She’s off to see the Ministry of Education again tomorrow for another fruitless meeting. I’ll observe Teydin’s HD session in the morning and Gill’s in the afternoon. It’s good for the soul to observe other people doing the job you’re supposed to be doing.